The Oddsworth Smell Test
Claim
“Gautam Gambhir is a great India coach.”
Half right
Data India's men have won 8 of 18 decided Tests under Gambhir, 44%, against 67% under Dravid, yet his sides are seven from seven in knockout matches
Seven knockout matches, seven wins. Under Gautam Gambhir, India's men have beaten Australia and New Zealand to take the Champions Trophy, Pakistan in an Asia Cup final, and England and New Zealand at the T20 World Cup. That run of big days would make any coach look like a genius in the group chat. Rahul Dravid's sides won six knockout matches and lost three. Ravi Shastri's won two and lost two, and both defeats came against New Zealand, in a World Cup semi-final and a World Test Championship final.
Everyday T20 cricket backs the knockout record up. India have won 47 of their 60 decided T20Is under Gambhir, 78%. That is a shade above Dravid's 75% and clear of Shastri's 69%.
Tests are another story
Test cricket is where the reputation runs into a wall. India have won 8 of their 18 decided Tests under Gambhir, 44%, against 67% under Dravid and 65% under Shastri. Test cricket is also the format where a coach's work shows over whole series, and a side that used to win most of its Tests now loses more than it wins.
The one-day side has slipped outside the trophy matches as well. India have won 15 of 25 decided ODIs under Gambhir, which is 60%, below Dravid's 73% and Shastri's 69%.
The verdict
On results, Gambhir is the best knockout coach of the three, and his T20 side is the strongest of the lot. A great India coach has to win Test matches as well, so the claim holds only for the white ball until his Test side climbs back towards the record his two predecessors left him.