Gambhir’s India in a tailspin

The past fortnight has not been very pleasant for Gautam GambhirThe demand for the former India opener seemed to soar skyhigh after he pulled the strings behind Kolkata Knight Ridersrsquo third Indian Premier League title this year However now that he has taken over the reigns of Team India eyebrows are raised following a rather lacklustre series defeat to New Zealand in PuneThe socalled Gambhir era kicked off with a T20I series win over Sri Lanka during their whiteball escapades back in July Yet the optimism quickly turned into concern during a dismal threematch ODI seriesWith heavyweights like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli rejoining the squad many had pinned their hopes on this Indian team effortlessly toppling a woefully underperforming Sri Lankan side Instead the Indian batting lineup was thoroughly dismantled by Sri Lankarsquos spin trio Charith Asalanka Dunith Wellalage and Wanindu HasarangaThe situation only escalated in the subsequent matches with the Indian unit looking utterly perplexed as legspinner Jeffrey Vandersayrsquos sixwicket haul in the second ODI catapulted the hosts to a series lead The final ODI was just another day in paradise as Dunith showcased his prowess with a fivewicket haul leading his side to a series win This left fans and critics alike scratching their heads questioning how the 2023 ODI World Cup finalists had suddenly turned into timid kittens against spinIndias concerns about their spin woes took a brief respite after they mercilessly crushed Bangladesh in a 20 series sweep at home But the real test loomed on the horizon with New Zealand gearing up for battleAlso ReadYashasvi Jaiswal will look to make his first Test at Wankhede memorableDespite New Zealandrsquos dismal preparation facing a washedout oneoff Test against Afghanistan and a humbling 20 series defeat to Sri Lanka before the Indian tour the team somehow found its groove against a historically dominant Indian side on home soilRemarkably they managed to do all this without their star batter Kane Williamson who was busy nursing an injury But none of this seemed to matter as the New Zealand bowlers went on a rampage reducing India to a jawdropping total of just 46 runs their lowest ever in home conditionsAs if that wasnrsquot enough the second Test served as an even more excruciating exercise in disappointment Batting collapses have become the hallmark of the ongoing series leaving the Indian batsmen flounderingNew Zealand seized the moment aiming to capitalise on their significant firstinnings lead But lo and behold Indiarsquos spinners finally decided to show up limiting the Kiwis to a mere 358 runs Yet despite the spin revival the Indian batting continued its lacklustre performance leading to the end of their historic winning streak of Test series victories a remarkable run that lasted over 4000 daysAlso ReadlsquoHard to digestrsquo Kapil Dev on Indias first series loss at home since 201213It is then hard to say what is more shocking Indian battersrsquo ability to crumble under pressure or the uncanny talent of New Zealandrsquos bowlers to make mincemeat of a side that was once considered a fortress at home As Gambhir takes the helm one canrsquot help but wonder if the legendary batsman has accidentally wandered into a parallel universe where his team has forgotten the basic tenets of battingFrom T20 triumphs to a Test series meltdown the Gambhir era appears to be off to a rocky start Fans are left to ponder whether this coaching stint will ultimately elevate Indiarsquos performance or simply add another layer of disappointmentAs questions loom about the future of the Indian batting order one can only hope that Gambhirrsquos reputed acumen will kick in sooner rather than later But for now the shadows of doubt linger over a team that once basked in the glow of dominance How long will it take for the Indian batsmen to rediscover their footing and shake off the spinning shacklesIn the end cricket much like life is full of surprises And while the cricketing world waits with bated breath one thing remains abundantly clear the road ahead for Gambhir and his charges will be anything but smooth With critics sharpening their pencils and fans gripping their seats the saga of Team India under Gambhirs stewardship promises to be a rollercoaster ride filled with ups downs and plenty of nailbiting moments