India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has revealed the team’s next target is to qualify for the World Test Championship final. In the previous edition of the WTC, India was in the driver’s seat to qualify for the summit clash but veered off the track as they suffered a 3-0 series loss against New Zealand despite playing at home in 2024.
Furthermore, India suffered a 3-1 series loss against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series. Meanwhile, India also suffered a 2-0 series loss against South Africa in 2025 in the ongoing WTC cycle.
India is currently in sixth place in the WTC standings with a PCT OF 48.15 after four wins, as many losses, and one draw.
Gautam Gambhir said on the ANI podcast, “Test cricket is very close to my heart. That one format is extremely, extremely close. And I hope that first we can qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. That’s my next target. We still have nine Test matches to go. And the focus is going to be there.”
The chief coach admitted that the team is in a transition phase in the red-ball version.
“Yes, we’ve gone through a transition. And transition in red-ball cricket is always difficult as compared to white-ball cricket, and there are these young boys, whom we will keep backing in red-ball cricket. Because Test cricket is never easy. So, the next target is that hopefully we can qualify for the WTC Final,” he added.
The former Indian opener said Test cricket is really close to his heart and he wants the team to do well in the pristine form of the game.
“One format which is very close to my heart. If you ask me about all three formats, it is red ball cricket. I am still traditional and I think most of the boys in that dressing room are. They really want to do well in Test cricket. They really do, because that is where legacies are made. That is where you feel content when you come back. That’s the only format that gives you the opportunity to score 100, 200, or 300. No other format gives you that opportunity, and when you go through those five days of hard work and when you get the result, there is no more satisfaction than getting a Test win under your belt. Whether it is the T20 World Cup final or whether it is a 50-over game. Test cricket gives you ultimate happiness,” he said.
Indian players will be next seen in action in the IPL.
