# Gambhir backs India despite Test criticism before Colombo match 2026-08-22T11:51:55+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet (2 source reports) India head coach Gautam Gambhir has rejected claims that the team is struggling in Test cricket before Sunday’s second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. India lead the series 1-0 after a 165-run win in Galle. Gambhir said rankings were not his priority and that his focus was winning trophies. The Times of India reports that India have won five of 10 Tests in the current World Test Championship cycle and are fifth in the standings. The team has also lost home series to New Zealand and South Africa since Gambhir took charge. Separately, the newspaper reports that Kuldeep Yadav took one wicket in 25 overs in Galle. Gambhir urged him not to chase wickets and said selection would depend on the bowling attack most likely to take 20 wickets. Captain Shubman Gill will decide Kuldeep’s role during the match. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The first report gives considerable space to Gambhir’s defence and his trophy-focused approach, while also recording the results behind the criticism. The second centres on Kuldeep Yadav’s limited impact and the possibility of a change, but includes Gambhir’s explanation that bowling decisions belong to the captain. Together, the reports suggest that India’s immediate concern is match-specific selection rather than a formal change in direction. The Colombo team sheet will show whether the management retains its winning combination or alters the bowling attack. ## Coverage Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Balances Gambhiru2019s defence with Test results and rankings - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (2) (neutral report) Reports Kuldeepu2019s figures alongside Gambhiru2019s selection message This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above. Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources. Last updated 2026-08-22T14:01:23+00:00. Tags: Gautam Gambhir, India cricket team, Rohit Sharma, Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli, World Test Championship Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/gambhir-rejects-claims-india-are-struggling-in-tests/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/gambhir-rejects-claims-india-are-struggling-in-tests/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/