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The future of Gautam Gambhir as India's head coach hangs in the balance, with his tenure facing increasing scrutiny following mixed results. While Gambhir has achieved some notable successes, particularly in revamping the T20I squad, the team's performances in both the ODI and Test formats have been far from convincing, leading to concerns about his ability to lead India to sustained success. The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, a critical series for both teams, is now seen as a crucial test for Gambhir's coaching abilities.
According to a report in Hindi daily Dainik Jagran, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering a significant change in coaching structure, potentially opting for a split coaching role to address the team's struggles in the longer format of the game. This proposed change would see VVS Laxman take over the head coaching role for India's Test team, while Gambhir would retain the White ball coaching role. Such a move would almost be an inverse of the current situation where Laxman, who also heads the National Cricket Academy (NCA), is often sent as the Indian white ball coach for younger players, while Gambhir is primarily involved in red ball duties.
The BCCI's potential decision to split coaching roles reflects their growing dissatisfaction with the team's performance under Gambhir's leadership. Despite the team's recent T20 World Cup triumph, the underwhelming results in other formats have sparked concerns about Gambhir's ability to deliver consistent results across all three formats. The BCCI's meeting with captain Rohit Sharma, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and Gambhir himself, underscores the seriousness of the situation. The BCCI, under secretary Jay Shah and president Roger Binny, is clearly looking for immediate improvements in the team's performance, especially in the longer format, which has traditionally been a source of strength for India. The outcome of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will likely play a significant role in shaping the future of both Gambhir's coaching career and India's cricketing plans.
Source: BGT 2024: Gautam Gambhir likely to lose his job as Team India Head Coach if...