The job of India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who is facing criticism after the team's poor Test performance and loss against New Zealand as well as Australia, is in danger. His position as coach will be 'revaluated' based on India's performance in the ICC Champions Trophy beginning February 19, 2025, as per a PTI report. This comes amid concerns over discontent in the dressing room due to his push to dismantle the long-prevalent 'superstar culture' in the team.
According to a senior BCCI source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the head coach's position could become untenable if India puts up a dismal show in the Champions Trophy. "If India doesn't do well in the Champions Trophy, the head coach's position could become untenable. Yes, his contract runs till the 2027 World Cup but the process of evaluation continues. Sport is result-oriented and till now, Gambhir hasn't given any tangible results," he told PTI.
After he took over as coach, the Indian team has failed to taste success in six out of 10 Tests. In addition, Sri Lanka too stunned the Men in Blue in the bilateral ODI series held in August last year. Gambhir took over as head coach in July 2024 after Rahul Dravid's tenure ended post the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Sources say Gautam Gambhir and several senior players aren't on the same page on the issue of team culture. "Gambhir wants to end the superstar culture that has been prevalent for so many years now. In IPL 2012, as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain, he had dropped Brendon McCullum from the playing XI for the final match against CSK. He has come here to dismantle the superstar culture and that's what has caused discomfort for some playing members," a source, who has seen Gambhir's functioning closely, said.
Elaborating on how Gambhir doesn't want the 'star culture' to breed, the source cited another instance. "Once, as Delhi Ranji captain, Gambhir decided that they will play home matches at the Roshanara Ground in Delhi North-West where the pitches were green-top. But one huge superstar, who was also out of the Indian team, wanted to play the games at the Jamia Milia Islamia ground, which was closer to his south Delhi residence. Gambhir turned him down. Similarly, in the Indian team, he doesn't want star culture to breed," he added.
Notably, Gambhir was not pleased with how some star players made specific demands about their choice of hotels as well as practice timings during the tour of Australia. However, senior players have felt a lack of communication from his end. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is already reviewing Team India's performance in Australia.
'Chappell way won't work in India'
A former selector compared Gambhir's approach as a coach to that of former coach Greg Chappell and said that the 'Chappell Way' doesn't work in India. "Either you be like a Ravi Shastri, who would be media-friendly, give those sound bites propping up players making them look like alpha males," he said.
"Or be like Rahul Dravid, Gary Kirsten or John Wright, who would remain aloof, letting the players hog the limelight. The 'Chappell Way' doesn't work in India. Gambhirs or Shastris or Dravids will go but players will stay," the former selector, who toured frequently during Shastri's tenure as coach, added.
To add to Gambhir's woes, the BCCI brass also appears upset with how the head coach's personal assistant shadowed the team everywhere in Australia. "Why was his PA sitting in the car specified for national selectors? They can't even discuss things in private with an unknown third person in the car. Why was he allotted space in the BCCI's hospitality box in Adelaide," a BCCI official said.
"How did he have breakfast in the cordoned off area of a five-star facility which is just earmarked for the team members?" the displeased official asked.
(With agency inputs)
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