New Delhi, July 1 (NationPress) Former England spinner Monty Panesar has raised critical concerns about Gautam Gambhir's role as head coach of India, emphasizing that the team's primary challenge lies in its bowling performance, which is casting doubt on his effectiveness. With the upcoming Test at Edgbaston on July 2, India aims to level the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy after a disappointing first Test loss despite having a strong start. In that match, India made history by becoming the first team to lose a Test despite five players scoring centuries.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, Panesar highlighted the necessity of selecting a bowling lineup capable of excelling in English conditions.

"The issue is that if Gautam can transform his team into a formidable batting unit, he must also prove his capability in developing a strong bowling unit. Fans are likely to criticize him. When India had over 400 runs, they should have clinched the Test match. However, the question remains, 'Does Gautam Gambhir possess the skills to enhance the bowling performance? Can he demonstrate that?'

“He must now reflect, 'I know how to optimize the batting, but as a coach, can I assemble a team that can secure 20 wickets? That's his most significant challenge in England right now. If he fails to show that ability, the BCCI may evaluate his performance after each Test and consider their options post-series. His primary challenge is to select the right attack for each venue to achieve 20 wickets,” Panesar noted in his discussion with IANS.

Since taking over as head coach after Rahul Dravid's exit, India has only secured three wins out of 11 Tests—achieving a 2-0 victory against Bangladesh and suffering a 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which has resulted in India dropping out of the top two in the 2023-25 World Test Championship.

When discussing the conditions at Edgbaston, Panesar predicts a turning wicket that could benefit Kuldeep Yadav or Washington Sundar, advising India to incorporate one of these two as the main spinners.

“It's going to be a turning wicket. Edgbaston is dry, lacking much grass cover. I believe this will be advantageous for India. The key for India is to recognize that while batting isn't the issue, bowling is critical. We must secure 20 wickets to win a Test match. That is paramount, and Shubman Gill has indicated that he would favor five tailenders if it means having a bowling attack that can take 20 wickets.

“From that perspective, I believe Prasidh Krishna bowls too short and may need a break. Bumrah will likely rest regardless. It's crucial to bring in either Kuldeep Yadav or Washington Sundar as an additional spinner. Ashdeep Singh should also be included. His left-arm seam bowling could pose problems for the England team. Additionally, Mohammed Siraj is a must, and Shardul Thakur could also be considered,” he concluded.