The Indian cricket team is facing significant internal strife under new head coach Gautam Gambhir. After India's crushing defeat in the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne, Gambhir reportedly criticized the players for not sticking to the game plan.
Sources claim that tensions are running high in the Indian dressing room, with Rohit Sharma's captaincy also under uncertainty. The Indian skipper is also likely to get a call on his Test future after the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy being held in Australia.
Gautam Gambhir, who took over as India's head coach after Rahul Dravid's tenure ended following the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, is under close scrutiny. Gambhir's tenure as head coach has been rocky, with the Indian team suffering an ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka and a historic Test series defeat at home in New Zealand – India's first in 12 years under his tenure.
BCCI concerned about professionalism of Gautam Gambhir's support staff
With India trailing 1-2 in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and their hopes of making the 2025 WTC Final hanging by a thread, Gambhir's leadership and role are being questioned. Now, a report claimed that there is discontent within the BCCI regarding a key member of Gautam Gambhir's support staff.
However, the report did not reveal the exact names of the Indian support personnel. Currently, Gautam Gambhir-led Indian support staff has only two overseas coaches: South Africa's Morne Morkel as bowling coach and Ryan ten Doeschate, a former Dutch cricketer, as assistant coach.
The rest of the coaches are Indians: T Dilip as the fielding coach and Abhishek Nayar is the assistant-cum-batting coach of the Indian cricket team. However, BCCI sources did not reveal the name but it could be either Morne Morkel or Ryan ten Doeschate while Abhishek Nayar is a slim chance as all have worked as IPL coaches.
Gautam Gambhir's staff under fire as personal assistant seen in BCCI's designated box in Australia tour
One of Gambhir's assistant coaching staff is said to have FOP (Field of Play) access during IPL 2024 where he would use the field of play after matches in the franchise jersey and is doing the same in Australia.
A PTI report claimed that one of the key members of India's coaching staff is bringing in a personal assistant everywhere, raising eyebrows at the professionalism within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
But concerns grew when one of the key members of the support staff was frequently accompanied by his personal assistant wherever he went on the Australian tour. Even India's assistant coaching staff has been seen in a box designated by the BCCI in the ongoing tour of Australia, which has irked the world's richest board.
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Gautam Gambhir's position will not be safe: Report
Additionally, Gambhir is said to have a strained relationship with several Indian players. His communication has not been as effective as during the tenure of Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid.
According to the PTI report, Gautam Gambhir's future as the head coach of the Indian team is uncertain. The BCCI may take a decision on its stance if the team's performance does not improve after the New Year Test against Australia in Sydney starting January 3, 2025, and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The BCCI source told PTI, “There is a Test match to play and then there is the Champions Trophy. If the performance does not improve, even Gautam Gambhir's position will not be secure.”