Gambhir stays in the present as key WTC contest looms ahead

India head coach Gautam Gambhir is keeping his focus firmly on the present as his side prepares for the second Test of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 series against Sri Lanka. India are leading the two game series 1-0.

India currently sit fifth in the WTC standings as they target a third appearance in the final. With eight Tests remaining in the cylce, a positive outcome against Sri Lanka can boost their chances, ahead of the away tour against New Zealand later this year and the home Test series against Australia early in 2027.

A win can raise India's point percentage to 57.57, which can see them overtake Bangladesh in the WTC Standings, should the side lose to Australia at Mackay.

According to head coach Gautam Gambhir his team wasn't looking too far ahead in the future, instead focussing on securing a third successive Test series win in Sri Lanka.

“The entire focus is about looking forward to the next five days and more importantly looking at every session and every hour as well.

"You don't control what's going to happen over the next five days. You can only control what you can control in that first session and that one particular hour.

“And that is how we want to see these things as well. It's not about where we're going to be at the end of the World Test Championship cycle. It's about if we can continue to try and win test matches, everything else will take care of itself.

“So rather than thinking too much ahead, let's try and stay in the present. And that is what the beauty of sport is. The more you stay in the present, the more you have the opportunity to get the results in your favor.”

Speaking about the potential playing XI on the eve of the second Test, Gambhir kept his options open, emphasizing that team combinations and conditions would ultimately determine the selection.

India fielded five bowlers in the first Test in Galle, and Gambhir believed that was the way to go ahead for his side. 

“When you have five proper bowlers, then you can better rotate your bowlers. But if you only play with four bowlers, then sometimes it's a lot of hard work. As we saw in the last test match that Kuldeep didn't bowl a lot, despite that we had a fifth bowler who could come and take wickets for you at any stage.

“But if your fifth bowler is a part-timer, then you won't be able to rotate your seamers a lot and you will have to bring your seamers back quickly.

“You want to bring your seamers back in these conditions when they come and create an impact. So we have that luxury. I always say that the team that has five proper bowlers, they always have more chances to win the test match.”

The Indian head coach also spoke about Kuldeep Yadav and the role he can play in the bowling attack. The wrist-spinner was often the last bowler to be preferred by captain Shubman Gill in the first Test, with Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar taking centre stage.

Despite his limited involvement, Gambhir highlighted the value Kuldeep brings to the team, stressing that having an attacking wicket-taking option like him is always an advantage.

“We know how good a bowler Kuldeep is. More importantly, sometimes it is up to the captain as well. He feels that if his two other spinners can get him wickets looking at the conditions, what pace he wants a certain spinner to bowl. It is not about guys under-bowling. It is about getting the result. For me, I think that is more important.” said Gambhir.

“When you play five proper bowlers, someone will eventually go under-bowl. And that is what test cricket is all about. But it is not about someone not delivering and going under-bowl. It is about who he feels, the captain feels or the management feels, can be most threatening in that particular condition.”

India's second and final Test against Sri Lanka begins tomorrow on August 22 in Colombo.