Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir talked about the shocking 0-3 home series defeat to New Zealand in late 2024 during the second Test against West Indies. Gambhir said that the team should focus on the future and said that this defeat should remain a reminder of the bad phase of Indian cricket.
Team India, captained by Rohit Sharma, had to face defeat at the hands of New Zealand. Notably, this was their first home Test series defeat since 2012 and their first winless home series in two decades. This was Gautam Gambhir’s second stint as head coach in red-ball cricket after taking over from Rahul Dravid.
India fails to advance to ICC World Test Championship 2025 final
Rohit Sharma-led India enter the home series against New Zealand as favorites after a 2-0 win over Bangladesh. The visiting team was missing its star batsman Kane Williamson, so hopes of another win at home were sky high.
However, the series got off to a poor start with India being bowled out for only 46 runs in the Bengaluru Test. The hosts failed to make a comeback in Pune, and suffered another defeat that confirmed a rare series defeat with a match remaining.
A narrow defeat in Mumbai led to a 3–0 whitewash, ending India’s 12-year unbeaten home streak. This humiliation disrupted India’s World Test Championship campaign. The defeat blighted his prospects, and a subsequent 1–3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar series in Australia confirmed his exit.
Everyone thought we would beat New Zealand – Gautam Gambhir
Speaking on JioHotstar, Gautam Gambhir admitted that many expected India to dominate New Zealand, but the shocking defeat marks a lesson in his coaching tenure that cannot be forgotten.
“If I’m honest and speak from the heart, I don’t think I can ever forget this in my coaching tenure and I should never forget this,” Gambhir said.
He said, “I have said this to the boys as well, it is important to look forward, but sometimes it is also important to remember the past. Everyone thought we would thrash New Zealand. In that dressing room, we have to keep reminding ourselves that New Zealand happened.”
There is pressure on me every day- Gautam Gambhir
Despite a challenging start to his red-ball coaching tenure, Gautam Gambhir has led Team India to consistent success in white-ball cricket. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the team won the 2025 Champions Trophy.
India has a chance to become the first team to win three consecutive ICC white-ball tournaments. The team will hope to continue their winning streak under Gambhir in the domestic T20 World Cup in 2026.
Gambhir said, “There is pressure on me every day. Be it after the loss in New Zealand, be it after the loss in Australia or after winning the Champions Trophy. After all, we are representing 140 crore Indians.”
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