Gautam Gambhir’s Position as India Head Coach in Jeopardy After Consecutive Losses

Islamabad:The consecutive defeats of the Indian cricket team have put the position of head coach Gautam Gambhir under increasing scrutiny. Gambhir, who took over as head coach of the Indian team in July last year, has overseen a series of disappointing results. Under his leadership, India has lost six out of ten test matches and a One-Day International series in Sri Lanka.

The team’s unexpected whitewash in the home Test series against New Zealand and a 1-3 series loss to Australia have not only placed the international careers of star players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in doubt but have also made Gambhir’s position as head coach increasingly unstable.

According to Indian media, if India does not perform well in the Champions Trophy, Gambhir’s coaching effectiveness will be closely evaluated. Despite having a contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) until the 2027 World Cup, his recent performance has raised concerns about his future.

BCCI sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Gambhir has not delivered solid results so far. If India performs poorly in the Champions Trophy, a thorough review of his coaching performance will be conducted.

Gambhir, who aims to eradicate the superstar culture prevalent in Indian cricket, has reportedly caused tension within the team. He is determined to end the dominance of star players in the dressing room, which has created friction between him and some senior players. It is believed that Gambhir and senior players are not aligned on the team culture.

In a related development, a recent meeting between BCCI officials, captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar led to new policies regarding players’ personal lives during international tours. Reports suggest that players’ wives will no longer be allowed to travel with them for the entirety of international tours. For tournaments or series lasting over 45 days, players’ wives will only be permitted to stay with them for 14 days. For shorter tours, this limit will be reduced to just 7 days.

Additionally, a new travel policy mandates that all Indian cricketers will now travel together on the team bus. In recent years, many players had preferred to travel alone, but this will no longer be allowed under the new rules.