Sourav Ganguly Warns Gautam Gambhir: “Real Test Will Be in 2027 World Cup”
Legendary India captain Sourav Ganguly has said that the “real test” for India head coach Gautam Gambhir is still ahead, despite the team’s recent success in international tournaments.
Gambhir recently became the first India coach to win two ICC trophies after guiding the team to victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, adding it to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title already under his belt. Under his leadership, India overcame early setbacks and went on to clinch back-to-back T20 World Cup triumphs.
However, Ganguly believes Gambhir will face his toughest challenge at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, which will be hosted in South Africa.
“Conditions Will Test Him”
Speaking in an interview with Boria Majumdar for Moneycontrol, Ganguly said the conditions in South Africa would present a significant challenge for the Indian team.
“His real test in white-ball cricket is going to be in South Africa in 2027. Conditions there will test him, but I am confident he will get it right with the team he has,” Ganguly said.
India came close to winning the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 but suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Australia in the final after remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament.
High Stakes for Senior Players
The 2027 World Cup could also be a crucial tournament for senior Indian players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who may get their final opportunity to lift the prestigious ODI trophy.
Interestingly, Gambhir himself was part of India’s World Cup-winning squad in 2011 as a player, and he now carries the responsibility of guiding the team to glory as head coach.
Ganguly Urges Improvement in Test Cricket
While praising Gambhir’s achievements in white-ball formats, Ganguly also suggested that the team must improve its performances in Test cricket.
“In red-ball cricket, he needs to get better. The way to do it is to think less about the wicket. He needs to get the wicket out of his system,” Ganguly explained.
Referring to India’s recent series in England, Ganguly said conditions and pitch discussions should not dominate the team’s focus.
“He doesn’t need to play on turners at home. Good wickets will produce good results,” he added.
Ganguly Backs Gambhir
Despite the warning, Ganguly made it clear that he has strong faith in Gambhir’s abilities as a coach.
“Gautam is a very good coach. I said earlier that you need to give the man some time. As a white-ball coach he is very good, especially in these conditions. He has a strong team,” Ganguly said.
After the conclusion of the Indian Premier League 2026 season, Gambhir is expected to shift his focus toward preparing the Indian team for upcoming Test and ODI assignments as the road to the 2027 World Cup begins.
