Give them time: Deep Dasgupta's warning to Gautam Gambhir despite Galle Test win
Former cricketer Deep Dasgupta has urged India's team management to prioritise building a dominant team across multiple World Test Championship cycles rather than chasing short-term fixes.
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India won the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle in an emphatic fashion. The match held special significance as India played its 600th Test on the nation's 80th Independence Day. The series remains crucial for both teams to collect World Test Championship points and maintain their position in the race for the 2027 WTC final, with India currently placed fifth in the standings and Sri Lanka sixth.
Deep Dasgupta, the former India cricketer, has offered a strategic perspective on the team's direction under head coach Gautam Gambhir. Rather than celebrating the Galle victory in isolation, Dasgupta emphasised the importance of viewing the current phase as a foundation-building opportunity for sustained Test cricket dominance.
"I would want to use this cycle to create a team which would dominate in the next two cycles, rather than looking at it in the short term, series to series," Dasgupta was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.
Dasgupta's focus on building a dominant team across multiple World Test Championship cycles reflects a strategic vision that extends beyond individual series outcomes. The former cricketer believes that the current phase offers an opportunity to establish a strong foundation for sustained success in Test cricket, particularly as India navigates a significant generational transition.
The departures of senior players have reshaped India's Test squad significantly. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin have retired from Test cricket, while Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara have also moved on. Fast bowlers Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav have similarly exited the international stage, leaving substantial gaps in experience and leadership.
"In the last two or three years, Virat has retired, Rohit has retired, Ashwin has retired, Ajinkya and Pujara are gone. Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav are also gone. So the main nucleus of the team that you spoke about for the last 10 years is gone," he continued.
The next generation of India's cricketers brings a different skill set shaped by their white-ball experience. Dasgupta acknowledged this reality and stressed the need for patience as these players adapt to the demands of Test cricket.
"The next generation of players, like I said, are more white-ball-cricket oriented than red-ball. So you've got to give them a little bit of time to settle down into Test match cricket as compared to white-ball ODIs or T20s Keeping that in mind, yes, we need to work harder, but I like the direction," Dasgupta added.
Dasgupta also advocated for improved preparation protocols ahead of Test series. He highlighted the value of dedicated camps that allow players and coaching staff extended time together before matches begin.
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