Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir acknowledged that the 3-0 home series defeat against the Black Caps last year is unforgettable. The result marked India’s first home series loss in 12 years, with New Zealand completing a historic whitewash.
Under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, India suffered a clean sweep for the first time in over 24 years. New Zealand dominated across all three matches, winning the opener by eight wickets, the second by 113 runs, and the third by 25 runs.
The defeat also impacted India’s path to the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final. Notably, this series was only Gautam Gambhir second assignment as India’s head coach, having taken charge in July 2024. He had led India to a Test series win against Bangladesh in his debut assignment.
Gautam Gambhir on India’s Shock Loss to New Zealand
During an interview with Star Sports, Gautam Gambhir described India’s defeat to New Zealand as a moment he can never forget. He also shared how he urges players to remember such losses, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past to avoid taking success for granted.
“That New Zealand loss was a bit of a shock – and it still stays close to my heart. As a coach, I can never forget it, nor should I. I’ve also told this to the boys – while it’s important to look ahead, it’s equally important to remember the past. Forgetting it can make you take things for granted, and nothing should ever be taken for granted,” Gautam Gambhir said.
He added, “Against New Zealand, there was a sense that we could just roll them over – and that’s the reality of sport. In that dressing room, I felt it was essential to keep reminding the players that the New Zealand loss happened. That’s partly why now we don’t want to give an inch to any opposition.”
Under Gambhir’s guidance, India have had a solid start to the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. With a win percentage of 55.56%, they sit third on the points table, with three wins, two losses, and one draw from six matches.
Shubman Gill, appointed India’s new Test captain in May, began his tenure with a 2-2 draw against England. In the ongoing series against the West Indies, India dominated the opening Test, winning by an innings and 140 runs, and currently lead the two-match series 1-0.