Gautam Gambhir feeling the heat as India struggles in transition

After India's five-wicket defeat to England at Headingley, questions are being raised about his leadership, selection decisions, and man management, as the team has now lost seven of its 11 Tests since he took charge in July last year.

The loss in Leeds wasn't just another result - it exposed worrying trends. Despite five individual centuries across two innings, India collapsed from strong positions in both, and a lack of bowling support for pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah left them unable to contain England's chase of 371 on the final day.

This latest defeat follows a humbling 3-0 series loss to New Zealand at home earlier this year-India's first home Test series defeat in over a decade - and a string of inconsistent performances overseas. With veteran icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stepping aside from the red-ball format, India is clearly in a rebuilding phase. But Gambhir, brought in to spearhead this transition, is under increasing scrutiny for how it's being handled.

A section of critics argue that Gambhir's aggressive on-field personality as a player is bleeding into his coaching, with mixed results. His press conferences have become flashpoints; his brusque responses, especially after losses, have drawn criticism from former players, including Sanjay Manjrekar, who suggested the coach steer clear of media duties.

Selection calls have also stirred debate. Chief among them: the continued omission of middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan, despite impressive domestic form and previous strong performances against visiting England sides. Instead, Karun Nair was preferred-fueling speculation that instinct is guiding decisions more than consistency.

Former teammates and analysts have offered a more nuanced take. "Tactically, Gauti is a very good coach," said wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik on a recent podcast. "Man management is the area that I am sure he would be looking at. But he's fiercely loyal to his players, and that's important."

Still, troubling signs of a leadership gap emerged during the final overs at Headingley. Field placements were being managed by senior players like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, while Gill, the newly appointed Test captain, appeared on the fringes. Bumrah, India's strike weapon who took 5 for 83 in the first innings, was conspicuously absent from the attack during the closing stages - raising eyebrows, including those of AB de Villiers, who questioned whether it was injury or mismanagement.

India's lower-order fragility is another recurring theme. From 430 for 3 to 471 all out in the first innings, and 333 for 4 to 364 in the second, the batting tail continues to undo the top-order's hard work.

Gambhir, a key figure in India's 2011 World Cup win, stepped into the role vacated by Rahul Dravid following a triumphant T20 World Cup campaign. While Dravid's era was marked by stability and discipline, Gambhir's early stint is being defined by transition and turbulence.

The second Test at Edgbaston begins Wednesday, and it already feels pivotal-not just for the series, but for Gambhir's credibility. In a cricket-mad country where success is measured match by match, the room for error is shrinking fast.

Whether Gambhir can calm the storm and turn potential into performance remains to be seen. For now, though, the spotlight is firmly on him.