Gautam Gambhir's job as Team India coach in threat claims report, BCCI chalks out replacement

Gautam Gambhir likely to lose his job if India lose in Australia

Gautam Gambhir's coaching tenure with Team India has got off to a topsy-turvy start. It is understandable that the team is under transition and requires time to hit the momentum, also highlighted by former India skipper Kapil Dev. But the unit has endured two shocking defeats in the span of four months post Gambhir's appointment as head coach. A star-studded Indian unit was defeated by Sri Lanka in an ODI series, and things have got worse for the 2007 and 11' World Cup winner after a shocking whitewash in Tests against New Zealand at home.

Taking note of the team's dismal show, reports have emerged of BCCI taking some swift action. A report by Dainik Jagran suggested that Gambhir's position as coach of Team India in all formats could be in jeopardy if the unit fails to meet the expectations in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

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The report claimed that BCCI may approach VVS Laxman as a potential replacement for Gambhir in the red-ball setup, while the latter continues as the coach in the white-ball formats. However, a final call will be taken only after India's performance in the five-match Test series against Australia, starting from November 22 in Perth.

A meeting was conducted by the BCCI to discuss the performance post the hiccup against New Zealand, which reportedly was attended by skipper Rohit Sharma, Gambhir, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, BCCI secretary Jay Shah and president Roger Binny. News agency PTI reported that questions were asked about certain decisions taken by the team management during the course of the New Zealand series. There were also discussions about Gambhir's style of coaching, which is very different from his predecessor Rahul Dravid, and how the team is getting used to it.

"It was a six-hour marathon meeting which was obviously on cards after such a debacle. India are going on a tour of Australia and the BCCI would obviously like to ensure that the team is back on track and would like to know how the think-tank (Gambhir-Rohit-Agarkar) are going about it," a senior BCCI source privy to development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.