Taking 20 wickets is the only way to win: Gautam Gambhir on Leeds Test loss

Leeds: In the aftermath of India's narrow loss to England in the opening Test at Headingley, team mentor Gautam Gambhir delivered a frank and insightful assessment of the team’s performance, emphasising that "taking 20 wickets is the only way to win Test matches."

"Batting runs alone can't win Tests" Gambhir, in a clear strategic message, said, “You can score 1000 runs, but unless you take 20 wickets, you don’t win Test matches.” He added that team selection going forward would hinge on pitch conditions and the ability to dismiss the opposition twice. “Our top priority is always 20 wickets, but the balance depends on the surface we play on.”

Amid criticism of India's lower-order batting collapse, Gambhir refused to single out the tail. “It’s not about blaming the tail. We lose together. Even top batters can fail. The effort is there, and they are working hard. These are moments to learn, not point fingers,” he said.

Speaking on Shubman Gill’s first outing as Test captain, Gambhir said, “He showed character with the bat. Scoring a century while leading for the first time shows maturity. Captaincy needs time, and he deserves that.”

India had individual brilliance in the game: five centuries – from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Gill, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant (two)– and a five-wicket haul from Jasprit Bumrah. But Gambhir was clear: “Performances are positive, but we play to win. It’s the result that defines the effort in Test cricket.”

While India fielded an inexperienced bowling unit, Gambhir expressed confidence in their development. “They showed promise across four and a half days. We’re building a pace battery for the long run. They will improve with more exposure,” he said.

Rejecting the “young team” narrative, Gambhir stated, “We represent 140 crore Indians. Whether young or experienced, there are no excuses. We’re here to win.”

On rotation and injuries, Gambhir confirmed some players were picked as backups and workload would be managed. “We had decided some players would play selected matches. Managing fitness is key with so much cricket ahead.”

On the pitch and ball shape issues during the match, Gambhir acknowledged the unpredictability but emphasised adapting to the situation. “We were in the game from Day 1 to Day 5. These things happen, but it’s about how we respond.”

Reiterating belief in the squad, Gambhir said, “We trust these bowlers. They are inexperienced but improving. Shardul gave us breakthroughs, Jadeja provided control, and Prasidh used bounce well. Everyone played a role.”

As India heads into the second Test, Gambhir’s message was simple and focused, “We take the learnings, keep believing, and move forward together. No excuses – only intent to win.”