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The future of India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, is facing uncertainty as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) prepares to question his vision for the national team. This comes following India's disappointing 3-0 Test series loss to New Zealand at home. Gambhir's contract extends until the 2027 ODI World Cup, but his future hinges on the upcoming series against Australia, which begins on November 22nd in Perth.
Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma are scheduled to meet with BCCI officials before the team departs for Australia on November 10th. The primary focus of the meeting will be to assess Gambhir's plans for the team's future. Concerns have been raised about his decision to focus on rank turners during the New Zealand series, a strategy that surprised some board members. Additionally, the BCCI is expected to scrutinize Gambhir's choices for his support staff, which includes two foreign members: Morne Morkel and Ryan ten Doeschate. This deviates from the board's policy of promoting coaches through the National Cricket Academy (NCA) program and the practice of previous coaches, Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid, who did not include foreign staff.
Further adding to the scrutiny, Gambhir was granted permission to attend the selection committee meeting for the Australia series, a privilege not previously extended to Shastri or Dravid. The BCCI's willingness to accommodate Gambhir's requests has led to questions about whether they will reassess their decisions and seek a detailed roadmap from the coach. Former India spinner and ex-selector Sunil Joshi has publicly voiced support for Gambhir, highlighting his commitment to the team and urging for patience before judging his performance as coach. However, the pressure is on Gambhir to deliver results, especially with the upcoming tour of Australia, a crucial series that will significantly impact his coaching tenure.