Former India coach Ravi Shastri recently reflected on the current coach Gautam Gambhir’s tenure in charge of the Indian cricket team so far, saying that the current Test team under Shubman Gill has all the makings of the good side and will soon be challenging for the World Test Championship (WTC) title. India who were finalists of the first two editions but lost out to New Zealand and Australia respectively. They, however, failed to make it to the final of the last edition after losing 0-3 to New Zealand at home and then falling 3-1 to Australia.
“It takes time to understand your players, to know what kind of combinations you should play. You know the fact that they have beaten West Indies and now they have got 2 Test matches under their belt overseas. It makes them firm favourites again to make it to the final of the WTC, barring something out of the ordinary happening,” Shastri said on The Grade Cricketer podcast.
“The good thing for him is that he has got a captain now who’s stable, composed, who’s calm, who’s quietly confident about his own ability and is a terrific player. He’s the man for the next decade for India. You got Rishabh Pant who is 26 for Test matches. There is very good back up there in Dhruv Jurel who can keep and bat as well. So makings of a good side. I think what he’ll be looking out for is a nice bench of fast bowlers. With Shami retiring, Bumrah- management load, you need another 3 to be groomed very quickly if India are to start challenging overseas on a regular basis,” he added.
. @RaviShastriOfc on how Gautam Gambhir is going as coach and what the future looks like for India
Watch the full interview now on TGC’s YouTube, hear it on the podcast or catch it on @kayosports pic.twitter.com/bLXruIiztb
— The Grade Cricketer (@gradecricketer) October 18, 2025
After the Border Gavaskar Trophy where India lost to Australia, Shubman Gill was named the Test captain for India with regular captain Rohit Sharma retiring from the format. Rohit’s retirement was followed by Virat Kohli also hanging up his boots from the longest format while Ravichandran Ashwin also retired in the middle of the Australia tour.
With India firmly under transition, Gill led India in the Tendulkar Anderson with the series ending at 2-2. Gill was then made the ODI captain, replacing Rohit and will lead India in the upcoming ODI series vs Australia, starting on Sunday. Under Gill, India also whitewashed West Indies 2-0 in a home series recently.
