Gautam Gambhir told his squad that India will be ready with every answer when the first Test against Sri Lanka begins on August 15 in Galle. The head coach addressed the team before their first practice session at Colombo’s NCC ground on Wednesday, in a video shared by the BCCI on social media.
“Come 15th morning (August 15), whether we are batting first, whether we are bowling first, we’re absolutely ready with every answer, every question that’s thrown at us, and every answer we are ready to give. So make sure we tick all the boxes from now on.”
Gautam Gambhir, team address at NCC ground Colombo, August 6, 2026
India’s Test record under Gambhir stands at four wins, eight losses, and one draw across 13 matches. The team suffered a 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home in late 2024, lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 in Australia, and then fell 0-2 to South Africa at home in November 2025. The second Test against South Africa ended in a 408-run defeat, India’s biggest loss by runs in Test history. India lost five home Tests across those two series, something that had not happened in 66 years.
This is the first WTC assignment since that South Africa result. India sit fifth in the World Test Championship standings with a points percentage of 48.15. Sri Lanka are sixth at 41.67. Both teams need wins to stay in contention for the WTC final at The Oval next year.
“We know what’s in front of us. We know what we are playing for. We can do the volume, we can push our limits, we can tick all the boxes.”
Gautam Gambhir, team address at NCC ground Colombo, August 6, 2026
The squad led by Shubman Gill will play a three-day warm-up match at the NCC ground from August 7-9 before travelling to Galle for the series opener. The second Test is scheduled at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo from August 23 to 27.
Gautam Gambhir sends a strong message ahead of India’s two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. 🇮🇳🤍🗣️#SLvIND #Tests #Galle #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/o6ZOwWudfm
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) August 6, 2026
Gambhir Backs Domestic Performers as India Prepare for Sri Lanka Tests
Gambhir used the team address to formally welcome two players earning their first Test call-ups, along with a new member of the coaching staff.
“We’ve got a couple of new guys in. To start with, Saransh, congratulations. You’ve worked extremely hard to be here. Make sure that you make your family and your country proud, whenever you get that opportunity.”
Gautam Gambhir, team address at NCC ground Colombo, August 6, 2026
Saransh Jain is a 33-year-old off-spin bowling all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh. He made his first-class debut in 2014 and has 181 wickets and 2,223 runs in first-class cricket. Last Ranji Trophy season, he finished with 518 runs at an average of 57.55 and 30 wickets at 20.43. He played a key role in Madhya Pradesh’s maiden Ranji Trophy title in 2021-22, picking up 13 wickets across the knockout stages.
“Secondly, I want to congratulate Auqib. You had a phenomenal last season, made J&K win the Ranji Trophy, which is a great achievement. Congratulations once again.”
Gautam Gambhir, team address at NCC ground Colombo, August 6, 2026
Auqib Nabi replaces Jasprit Bumrah, who is still recovering from a left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England. Nabi claimed 60 wickets in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season and was named Player of the Series as Jammu and Kashmir won their maiden title. Across the last two Ranji seasons, he has taken 104 wickets. If he makes his Test debut, he will become the first Test cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir.
Gambhir also welcomed Subhadeep Ghosh, the 57-year-old newly appointed fielding coach who replaces T Dilip. Ghosh previously served as fielding coach for the India women’s team and has worked with India A and Assam’s senior men’s side.
Insider Read:
Gambhir’s choice of words tells you where his mind is before this series. “Tick all the boxes.” “Ready with every answer.” “Push our limits.” This is process language. It is the language of a coach who has been questioned on preparation, planning, and results. It is not the language of a coach who feels secure in his position.
A coach who felt secure would talk about intent. About winning. About dominating. Gambhir is talking about ticking boxes and having answers ready. That distinction matters. He is not addressing the opposition. He is addressing the noise around his own team. Four wins in 13 Tests, two home whitewashes, and a record that would have ended most coaching tenures. When a coach with that record stands in front of his squad and says “we can tick all the boxes,” he is telling the room and everyone watching that the process is in place, that the failures were not about preparation. He is answering critics before the series starts.
The welcoming of Saransh Jain and Auqib Nabi fits the same pattern. Both earned selection through weight of domestic runs and wickets, not reputation. A 33-year-old debutant and a fast bowler from a state that has never produced a Test cricketer. Gambhir is telling the dressing room that performance in domestic cricket directly earns a Test place. After a stretch where established names failed repeatedly at home, that message carries intent even if it was delivered as congratulations.
Also Read:
