He has achieved some big highs like winning the Champions Trophy 2025. However, he has received his fare share of criticism.

Since his appointment, India have had a major setback in Test Cricket. They could not qualify for the final of the WTC for the first time in 2025. He also became the only head coach to be whitewashed twice on home soil - by New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa in 2025. Under him, results in ODIs have also not been great, as he became the first coach who led India to a series defeat on home soil against New Zealand.

However, while this criticism seems fair enough, Gambhir also deserves praise for the emergence of two players in the T20I setup - Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy, particularly with the T20 World Cup 2026 beginning in just a few days from February 7.

 

Harshit Rana: A Bowler Developed Into a No.8 Option

In Gautam Gambhir's setup, India goes with an all-rounder at no.8, so that the batting order can be extended, and the top order can score with more freedom. This spot is usually taken by the likes of Axar Patel or Washington Sundar. However, Sundar has suffered a pretty big injury, that may rule him out of the T20 World Cup. Axar also suffered a knock in the first T20I vs New Zealand. Hence, India definitely need a back up in that no.8 spot, and that is where Harshit Rana comes in.

Rana, who initially was selected in the India team only as a bowler, has hone his batting skills slowly and steadily. He showed his skills as a bowler first, but has honed his batting skills slowly and steadily. This was mostly visible in the 3rd ODI vs New Zealand, where he smashed 52, and stitched a 98-run stand with Virat Kohli.

On top of this, Rana has also been pretty good with the ball in white-ball cricket. He has taken 8 wickets in 7 T20Is, and 26 wickets in 14 ODIs, all after making his debut in 2024.

Even though he might not be a first-choice starter in the T20 World Cup 2026, he is definitely a very useful backup to have for the no.8 slot, especially if Washington Sundar is injured.

Varun Chakaravarthy: From 2021 Scapegoat to T20I Mainstay




Varun Chakaravarthy made his debut for India in the T20 World Cup 2021, where he had a horror start to his career. After his poor show in that tournament, the doors for him in the India team were closed.

It was Gautam Gambhir who introduced Varun Chakaravarthy in the India T20I lineup post his appointment. India already had established T20 World Cup-winning spinners in the form of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. However, Chakaravarthy's superb performances for KKR in the IPL helped Gambhir push for a place for him in the side.

Since then, Varun has had instant impact, and made himself a regular feature in the T20I side, with the T20 World Cup 2026 coming up.

He claimed 36 wickets in 2025, which was the most by any bowler from a full-member nation in 2025.

Criticism Deserved, But Credit Earned

Gautam Gambhir's coaching stint has had clear flaws, particularly in Tests and ODIs. Those failures deserve scrutiny. But as India head into the T20 World Cup 2026 as defending champions, his role in shaping Harshit Rana into a credible No. 8 option and reviving Varun Chakravarthy as a frontline T20I spinner deserves recognition.

In a format where roles, depth, and adaptability decide championships, these two calls may yet prove decisive.