Following a disappointing Test series defeat against New Zealand, head coach Gautam Gambhir’s performance is now under scrutiny, similar to that of the senior players on the Indian team. This loss marked India’s first-ever home whitewash in a Test series comprising at least three matches and adds to Gambhir’s record, which already includes a series defeat against Sri Lanka (0-2) in an ODI series in August since he took over as coach in July.
Gambhir’s Future Dependent on Australia Tour
According to a PTI report, Gambhir’s future as head coach may hinge on the upcoming tour of Australia, where India will face the Australian team in a five-match Test series as part of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar series. India aims not only to retain their title—having won the last two series in Australia—but also to secure a spot in the World Test Championship final. Following the significant loss at home, India, now in second place in the rankings, must avoid losing or drawing more than one match against Australia to qualify for the final for the third consecutive time.
Concerns Over Gambhir’s Decisions
The report highlights several concerns regarding Gambhir’s decisions as head coach, particularly his insistence on preparing a spin-friendly pitch in Mumbai for the third Test against New Zealand. This choice raised eyebrows, especially as the Indian batting line-up has shown increasing vulnerability against spin in recent years. Additionally, some of Gambhir’s tactical decisions during the series, such as sending Mohammed Siraj as a night-watchman on the second evening of the third Test and placing Sarfaraz Khan at No. 8 in the first innings, have come under fire.
Selection Powers Granted to Gambhir
Typically, BCCI regulations prevent head coaches from participating in selection matters, a point often emphasized by Gambhir’s predecessors, Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid. However, given the significance of the Australia tour, the board made an exception for Gambhir, allowing him to join the selection meetings. A senior BCCI source stated, “Gautam Gambhir was given access which his predecessors Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid didn’t have. The BCCI’s rule book doesn’t allow coaches to be a part of the selection committee meetings, but for the Australia tour selection meeting, an exception was made. The head coach was allowed to attend considering the magnitude of the tour.”
Since his appointment, Gambhir has influenced selection decisions, notably playing a key role in Suryakumar Yadav’s selection over Hardik Pandya for the T20I captaincy following Rohit Sharma’s retirement. More recently, reports indicated that Gambhir pushed for the inclusion of Harshit Rana in the Australia Test series despite the bowler having played only nine First-Class games, a decision that raised eyebrows among observers. Additionally, questions arose about Rana not participating in the India A tour in Australia and instead playing a Ranji Trophy match against Assam before training with the Indian team in Mumbai ahead of the third Test against New Zealand.
Gambhir has also influenced the selection of Nitish Reddy, believing he could serve as an effective replacement for Hardik Pandya as a seam-bowling all-rounder.
