TimesofIndia.com at Milanpur: For the better part of a year, every conversation around India’s Test team has started with the same word: transfer. In the head coach Gautam GambhirThe pre-match press conference before the Afghanistan Test, the talk of transfer.The retirement of legends and injuries to key bowlers made it easy to join a side looking for stability in the format. As India prepares for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, head coach Gambhir says the Shubman Gul-led side is still in transition, having played only nine Tests with the group.“We played nine Tests, did well in England and then beat the West Indies. So when people talk about the transition, that’s where it really started. If, after nine Test matches, you still think it’s a long rope, I don’t necessarily agree,” Gambhir said on Thursday.“We all saw how well this young team did against England and then the West Indies. Yes, the two-Test series defeat in South Africa hurt, but that’s part of any transition. Consistency could be an issue because these are young players. Most of them have played less than 30 Tests, which is not yet experienced at this level.“I don’t look for excuses. I don’t see the absence of a full-strength squad as a reason for where we are. We have enough talent in this group to turn things around, and I’m very optimistic that we can give ourselves the best chance of winning the World Test Championship,” he added.Since taking charge, Gambhir has repeatedly talked about creating a culture where players are supported over the long term rather than being judged after a handful of matches. Sudharsan’s defense of it exemplifies this philosophy. However, Sudharsan’s Test career has stalled. He scored 87 against the West Indies in New Delhi but a month after returning for the Guwahati Test, he was dropped for the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata, where his technique against spin was scrutinised.The left-hander’s modest start in Test cricket has raised questions about whether Devdutt Padikal, who scored bucketfuls of runs in the domestic circuit and debuted ahead of Sudharsan, deserves a chance. Gambhir’s answer was clear. “Sai hasn’t got a fair chance,” he said, arguing that deciding players after four or five Tests makes it impossible to build a successful team.This approach appears to be central to India’s transition strategy. Instead of endlessly searching for immediate results, management wants to identify players who are capable of contributing for the rest of the World Test Championship cycle.India is currently ranked sixth in the WTC standings. Apart from the lone Test against Afghanistan, which is outside the championship cycle, they have nine Tests remaining—two each against Sri Lanka and New Zealand before the Marquis Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in 2027. Ahead of this blockbuster series next year, India will need strong results in Sri Lanka and New Zealand to secure a place in the WTC finals. History suggests that no assignment will be straightforward, but the coach is optimistic about reaching the WTC finals. “We are always optimistic, until we get a chance to qualify for the WTC finals, because we know what kind of quality we have and what kind of talent we have. I don’t think there is any reason not to believe that we can’t win the World Test Championship and that’s not just me, everyone in the dressing room believes that. Yes, we might have the odd bad series here and there, but we know there’s a kind of talent and how hungry we are in the dressing room.” The emphasis on taking every Test seriously also reflects how India is planning for the coming months. According to Gambhir, one of the lessons learned from recent overseas assignments is that the team needs to prepare better for Red Ball cricket. With a tight schedule ahead of the Tests in New Zealand that includes the T20I and ODI series, the management is already looking at releasing some Test players from ODI commitments to give them extra preparation time.Ideal preparation is important for Gambhir, but mindset matters more. After almost two-and-a-half months of the IPL, eight members of the team have little time left for the fixtures that begin on June 6. “Mental skills are more important in Test matches,” Gambhir added: “If you are mentally prepared to grind it out, I think that will stand us in good stead.”Gambhir insists that the talent is already there. What the team is trying to build now is habits, patience and being able to absorb pressure in crisis situations to succeed in Test cricket.“Test cricket is not just about skill or technical ability. To be a successful Test cricketer, you need many other qualities. How you absorb pressure, how well you read the game, and the sacrifices you are willing to make for the team are all equally important.“That’s something we want to keep emphasizing to the young players. Success in Test cricket is not just about talent, it’s about the sacrifices you make for the team, and those sacrifices can make this Test team very successful,” Gambhir said.The unilateral test will give a glimpse of how the players are adapting to the challenge, and adapting to the transition.
