India vs Afghanistan: Gautam Gambhir Backs ICC’s Shift from Red-Ball to Pink-Ball Test Cricket
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has backed the use of Day/Night tests and called for more proactive thinking to help produce results in the longest format, saying teams should not be denied a chance to win because of bad light. Speaking on the eve of India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, Gambhir said that if both captains agree, a match should continue under floodlights whenever there is an opportunity to force a result. He argued that it would be unfair for a team to work for two years in the World Test Championship cycle only to have a decisive match affected by poor light. According to Gambhir, the idea is positive and should be embraced by teams in the spirit of competition.
Gambhir also expressed confidence that India can still reach the World Test Championship final despite recent setbacks. India were whitewashed 2-0 by South Africa in their last home Test series and currently sit sixth on the WTC table with 48.15% points from nine matches. Even so, Gambhir said the dressing room remains optimistic and believes strongly in the squad’s quality and hunger. He said one poor series does not change the bigger picture and insisted there is no reason to doubt India’s ability to qualify and compete for the title.
The Afghanistan Test is not part of the current WTC cycle, but it is an important part of India’s build-up to future red-ball assignments. India are set to tour Sri Lanka for two Tests in August and then travel to New Zealand for another two-match series in November. Gambhir’s comments also reflected India’s broader planning as the team adjusts its batting order after Shubman Gill moved to No. 4 following Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket. The immediate challenge is finding the right No. 3 batter.
For that role, India are considering B Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal. Gambhir made it clear that Sudharsan should be backed for longer. He said the left-hander has not received a fair chance in Test cricket, pointing out that his career began in England, where conditions are difficult for batters. Sudharsan has played six Tests and scored 302 runs at an average of 27.45, while also enjoying strong form in the IPL.
Gambhir acknowledged Padikkal’s impressive red-ball season, in which he scored 543 runs in the Ranji Trophy at an average of 60.33, but said selection is limited to one XI and players must wait for the right opportunity. He stressed that if India decide to back a player, they should provide a proper run rather than judge him on only a few matches. Gambhir said Sudharsan is not out of form, highlighted his IPL output, and described him as a world-class player who deserves faith from the team management. He added that Padikkal will get his chance when the time is right and will also deserve a fair run when selected.
