Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes India's one-coach formula for all formats will not work with Gautam Gambhir after losing six Test matches as head coach. The Indian cricket team's performance has been shocking since Gambhir replaced Rahul Dravid in July 2024.
They suffered their first ODI series loss to Sri Lanka since 1997 and were shockingly whitewashed 3-0 at home in a Test series in New Zealand. Adding to its woes, India lost the Test series 3–1 to Australia, losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after ten years.
However, the Men in Blue are unbeaten in T20I cricket, winning all their six matches under new coach Gambhir, but he is yet to win an ODI match and now all eyes are on the upcoming three-match ODI series against India at home, before. of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Monty Panesar calls for Gautam Gambhir's sacking as India's Test coach
Although Gambhir had successful spells as a T20 mentor with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and defending IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). As captain, the former Indian batsman won two IPL titles and also played crucial roles in India's T20 and ODI World Cup triumphs in 2007 and 2011 respectively.
But his Test numbers aren't great in Australia and England, and now India's Test performance has highlighted its weakness in red-ball cricket, leading many to suggest that the BCCI has separate coaches for the white-ball and white-ball teams. testing.
Well, Monty Panesar has championed the idea of having separate coaches for the Indian cricket team for white and red ball cricket. He believes that coaching all three teams is too much for Gautam Gambhir and he may face the pecking order of the senior players as he has played alongside them.
Do Indian players disrespect Gautam Gambhir?
Monty Panesar was quoted by the Times of India as saying, “I think so. I think it's a good option. I think maybe the workload is too much for Gambhir… He has just switched to coaching. Sometimes it can be difficult for some of the senior players who actually think, “Well, I was his teammate a few years ago; now he tells us how to play cricket. It can be difficult, that transition and also his record (as a batsman) is not great in Australia or in England.”
In Australia, Gambhir has managed just 181 runs in four Tests at an average of 22.62, while in England, he has just 127 runs in five outings at an average of 12.70. Such numbers do not suit a coach from the Test side and now the BCCI should hand over the role of Test coaching to VVS Laxman, Panesar said.
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India need a legend like VVS Laxman for the Test team: Monty Panesar
The former England spinner said that Gambhir's Test numbers are not that good and that makes it a challenge for him to command respect in the Indian dressing room. He noted that legends like VVS Laxman, with proven success in all conditions, naturally command respect and authority.
Panesar further explained, “I think the selectors will think, 'Is Gambir serious about this as a coach or should we make him focus only on ODIs and T20Is and maybe bring in someone like VVS Laxman for example (as test coach). )? Or bring him in as a batting coach to help Gambhir. He is similar to Rahul Dravid. It was successful in all conditions. I think you need some kind of Indian legend, who has done very well in all conditions, to come in as a coach, because then naturally you have that respect.”
He concluded, “If Laxman tells you, 'You're not going to play the ball up when it's swinging', you listen, don't you? But with Gambhir, I'm not sure if they really take him seriously or just say, “Okay, yeah, we'll listen to him, but we'll go and play our natural game.” “