 "India head coach Gautam Gambhir has already witnessed some big losses. Image: PTI")
Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir is set to lose a massive privilege after the embarrassing 3-0 Test series loss at home to New Zealand. It is the first time that India have lost every Test match in a three-game Test series at home . This is also India’s first Test series loss at home since 2012 .
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While any decisive action against Gambhir, who also saw India lose their first ODI series against Sri Lanka since 1997 , is not expected in the short term, the BCCI is reportedly set to take away a privilege that was granted to the 43-year-old former opener during the team selection for the upcoming five-match Test series in Australia.
BCCI ready to take away privilege from Gambhir?
As per the news agency PTI, Gambhir was part of the selection meeting despite BCCI’s rules being against a coach attending the discussion.
“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,” a senior BCCI source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
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The report goes on to say that Gambhir “may not have as much say in issues concerning the team in the coming times”.
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In all honesty, Gambhir has been given ample support from BCCI since he was appointed India’s coach. He has been given a free hand to pick his support staff. The former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor recruited Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate from the IPL franchise while Morne Morkel was picked as a bowling coach. Morkel worked with Gambhir at Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
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The real test for Gambhir now is in Australia where the Indian team will be expected to win at least four Test matches to qualify for the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final without relying on other results. India losing the Test series or failing to reach the WTC final could bring an early end to Gambhir’s contract with BCCI that runs till the 2027 ODI World Cup.