Gautam Gambhir may lose his position as head coach of India's Test team if Rohit Sharma's squad fails to perform well during their upcoming tour of Australia.
What was expected to be a promising coaching career for him has not unfolded as anticipated, with both he and Indian cricket fans facing disappointment. Gambhir, who came into the role of Team India's head coach following a successful stint with Kolkata Knight Riders, has overseen a string of setbacks. Under his leadership, India suffered an ODI series loss in Sri Lanka and a home clean sweep by New Zealand in Test matches. As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) grows increasingly concerned with the team's performance, Gambhir now faces a crucial challenge: a high-stakes Test series against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This series will be a defining moment for Gambhir’s tenure as head coach of India’s Test team.
Reports suggest that Gautam Gambhir’s position as head coach of India’s Test team could be in jeopardy if the team performs poorly during their tour of Australia. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly committed to keeping him as the white-ball coach, a disappointing result in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy could mark the end of his tenure as head coach for the red-ball format.
A report in Dainik Jagran from India suggests that if India struggles in Australia, the BCCI may consider appointing a specialist, such as VVS Laxman, as head coach for the Test team. In such a scenario, Gambhir would continue in his role as coach for ODIs and T20Is but would be relieved of his duties in the longest format.
It remains unclear whether Gambhir would accept such a shift in his role if the situation arises. Should the Border-Gavaskar Trophy turn into a closely contested series, the BCCI could face a difficult decision regarding his future as head coach of the Test team.
He recently participated in a lengthy six-hour meeting with BCCI selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar and India's ODI and Test captain Rohit Sharma. The discussion focused on Team India's disappointing 0-3 Test series loss to New Zealand at home, with the trio analyzing the factors that led to the team's poor performance.
Sources suggest that there are still some disagreements between Gautam Gambhir and the Indian team’s think-tank, particularly regarding team selection. These differences, however, could prove detrimental to the team's prospects, especially with the high-stakes Border-Gavaskar Trophy looming on the horizon.
(Source: NDTV)
BD-Pratidin/Mazdud
