There is no denying the fact that Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as the head coach of the Indian team has been far from ideal. Taking over from Rahul Dravid, a World Cup-winning coach, Gambhir has faced mounting challenges and criticism. A T20I whitewash against Sri Lanka stands out as one of the few positive outcomes but his overall track record has been disappointing. Significant losses include a 0-3 defeat to New Zealand at home, another 0-3 drubbing in ODIs against Sri Lanka and a 1-3 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to Australia. These setbacks have put Gambhir firmly under the spotlight.
With crucial assignments ahead, including the Champions Trophy and a five-Test series in England, Gambhir’s role could face closer scrutiny if India’s performances do not improve. The Champions Trophy, commencing on February 19, represents a critical challenge. India, champions in 2013 and runners-up in 2017, are among the favourites for the title. However, another failure in Dubai could leave Gambhir’s position increasingly vulnerable.
Despite these concerns, the former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes Gambhir’s job may not be in immediate jeopardy, even if India falters in the Champions Trophy. Aakash Chopra suggests that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should evaluate Gautam Gambhir’s overall performance after he completes a full year in the role. Appointed as the head coach in July last year, Gambhir’s tenure is expected to be reviewed following the England Test series in June.
Aakash Chopra said in his YouTube channel, “I feel one more England tour. I don’t think the BCCI will say anything to him until then. After the England tour, it will be a year since he took over the reins. You were supposed to ensure transition within one year. So how he did there, which players he prepared, and whether the team’s performances have improved, a review can be done for him.”
Aakash Chopra further added, “However, at least one year at the job is absolutely important to review someone’s performance. You need 12 months. So I feel not the Champions Trophy, but the England tour. That might just be a critical barometer or parameter based on which Gautam Gambhir’s performance might be reviewed. It won’t be a bad thing. You review the performances of batters and bowlers, so do it for the coach as well.”
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India’s previous tour of England ended in a 2-2 series draw under Virat Kohli’s captaincy and Ravi Shastri’s coaching. Jasprit Bumrah later stepped in as the stand-in captain for the rescheduled fifth Test at Edgbaston. With India having already lost a series in Australia, another defeat in England could trigger significant consequences, not just for Gambhir but also for several established players.
The selection dynamics for the England tour remain uncertain. Rohit Sharma’s availability for the trip is doubtful, while Virat Kohli’s position could face renewed scrutiny if his performances falter. The pressure on both the teams and its leadership is immense, as a poor outcome in England could impact not only Gautam Gambhir’s tenure but also the legacies of key players.
