Indian men’s team’s head coaches have always had an iffy relationship with fans. They will back you until you stop winning. Gary Kirsten, Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid all received criticism but also garnered immense backing from fans when they achieved something remarkable. However, in Gautam Gambhir’s case, it is slightly different. His coaching manual hasn’t sit well with fans and cricketing pundits. Horrible Tests returns and now two high-profile ODI series losses have just mounted extreme questions on the current Indian all-format head coach.
Despite making India’s T20I team almost unbeatable, Gambhir’s spot as the head coach is in question. Had India opted for a split coaching options, things would’ve been different. But all three formats add up and that’s where Gambhir has lacked results.
Prior to his appointment as Rahul Dravid’s successor in 2024, Gambhir had no real experience as a head coach. He was a mentor with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for two seasons before joining the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the same role. This time, he managed to win the IPL 2024 trophy alongside Shreyas Iyer (captain) and Chandrakant Pandit (head coach).
India’s lows under Gautam Gambhir
BCCI quickly finalised Gambhir and gave him a support staff of his own choice. While Abhishek Nayar was removed after a poor Border Gavaskar Trophy, the likes of Morne Morkel, Ryan ten Doeschate and Sitanshu Kotak are there with Gambhir. Under his coaching, India have seen some terrible lows. Yes, the retirements of Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli may have hurt badly, but you just can’t have a win percentage of just 36 as India’s coach in Tests.
New Zealand did the unthinkable by recording a clean sweep over India in India, becoming the first side to win a Test series in the country. It wasn’t it. South Africa managed to do the same as they outclassed India in all three departments. In that series, India were handed their biggest drubbing ever, losing by 408 runs. All this occurred after India handed the BGT crown to Australia after ten years. When it comes to ODI cricket, India won the ICC Champions Trophy under him. But apart from that, there hasn’t been anything inspiring, as India have managed to lose bilaterals against Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand.
T20 World Cup 2026 to be litmus test for Gambhir?
With all these unwanted results, it might now push BCCI to challenge Gambhir’s spot. Well, they might sack the two-time World Cup winner from his role if India fail to win the T20 World Cup 2026 under him. This judgement has been put forward by none other than Gambhir’s former teammate and India batter Manoj Tiwary. While speaking exclusively to Insidesport, Tiwary mentioned that the BCCI will remove Gambhir if India fail to defend their T20 World Cup crown. No team has ever managed to to do but this Indian team looks prime towards the goal. But T20 cricket is a funny game and any team can pull off a miracle against India.
“If Gautam Gambhir fails to win the T20 World Cup 2026, then BCCI should take a big and difficult decision. BCCI secretary has said that we will pursue with Gambhir till his contract expires. But if the T20 World Cup 2026 doesn’t give a result to Gambhir, I think BCCI will take a big call and will remove him,” stated Tiwary, who has previously won IPL 2012 under Gambhir’s leadership.
Who should replace Gambhir if he’s sacked by BCCI?
Considering India’s phenomenal team and form in T20 internationals, it might be an upset if the Suryakumar Yadav-led side fails to lift the silverware on March 9. However, the BCCI might have to take huge steps against Gambhir if the unfortunate does happen. In that case, Tiwary feels that VVS Laxman is the perfect candidate to succeed Gambhir.
While pondering over why Laxman should replace Gambhir, Tiwary mentioned that the former Test middle-order great is a level-headed guy and has done well as NCA head as well.
“It has to be a process-driven thing. When Rahul Dravid was India’s coach and if he used to miss any series, the natural choice was VVS Laxman. Laxman, being the head coach, has always had a good winning percentage. In my opinion, the BCCI should convince him because he is a level-headed guy and he is a very good human being as well. He has the coaching experience as well.”
Cricket
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