'Questions will be asked': Ex-India star's message for Gautam Gambhir before Sri Lanka Tests - The Times of India

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta believes head coach Gautam Gambhir will be under pressure when India begin their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle on August 15. India have lost Test series against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa under Gambhir, and will now look to bounce back against Sri Lanka.Dasgupta said the pressure will not only be on Gambhir but also on captain Shubman Gill and the rest of the Indian team. "As we are saying, two out of three series have been lost. So, there will be pressure. It is also important to say that all the names we are taking, everyone knows how to play under pressure, and they also know how to handle it. But there will be pressure on Shubman, the Indian players, and it is very, very important," Deep Dasgupta told IANSWTC StandingsPosTeamPlayedWonLostDrawDeductionPointsPCT (%)1Australia871008487.502South Africa431003675.003New Zealand641105272.224Bangladesh421102858.335India944105248.156Sri Lanka411202041.677England13481143824.368West Indies1127223022.739Pakistan5140846.67"Because they are talking about transition, it is very important to see a direction in the transition period. The transition started, let's say, after the New Zealand Test series; then came the England series and all of that. It started from there onwards. Somewhere, I feel that it is important to see a direction, and I am a little confused as to which direction we are going," he concluded.Dasgupta added that questions are bound to be asked if India's struggles continue."One thing is fair: questions will be asked of him (Gambhir). When the team does not play properly, questions will be asked individually. Obviously, the team's coach, captain, and everyone involved with the team will be asked questions because, if you look at it, we lost at home. After 2011-12, we lost the series in New Zealand, and we kept losing continuously," Deep Dasgupta said.India's chances of reaching the WTC finalDasgupta also warned that India cannot afford to take any opposition lightly, especially with difficult away assignments coming up. The Sri Lanka series could play a key role in India's hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final. India have nine Tests left in the current WTC cycle - away series in Sri Lanka - 2 Tests, away series against New Zealand - 2 Tests, home series against Australia - 5 Tests).India tour of Sri Lanka: Full scheduleDateMatchTeamsVenueTime (IST)August 7, 2026 (Friday)3-day Warm-up MatchSri Lanka XI vs IndiaNondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo10:00 AMAugust 15, 2026 (Saturday)1st TestSri Lanka vs IndiaGalle International Stadium, Galle10:00 AMAugust 23, 2026 (Sunday)2nd TestSri Lanka vs IndiaSinhalese Sports Club, Colombo10:00 AM"Well, firstly, there is no easy Test series, and especially right now, looking at the Indian Test side, which is going through a transition, there is not one easy Test match, no matter what happens.""Especially in Sri Lanka. Again, Sri Lanka has been a very difficult place to tour in the past, especially in these conditions right now. So, I think it's going to be interesting when looking at the WTC. I think there are nine Test matches left: five against Australia, two against Sri Lanka, and two against New Zealand. If I'm not wrong, roughly speaking, I think seven out of nine will have to be won to qualify for the WTC final. So, that in itself is a difficult task.""On top of that, you have Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka and New Zealand in New Zealand. These are difficult assignments. On top of that, if we look at it series by series, and if we don't count Afghanistan's one-off Test, then in the last three series, we have lost two, against New Zealand and South Africa. So, that is one thing. Obviously, that's why you can't take any series or opposition lightly at this time, in any condition," he said.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.