Former India cricketer sends reminder of Gautam Gambhir's commitment amid report of coach facing BCCI anger

As reported earlier by _Firstpost_ , India head coach Gautam Gambhir is set to meet the BCCI top brass before the team leaves for the five-match Test series in Australia which starts on 22 November in Perth. Team India, who lost 3-0 to New Zealand at home , is expected to leave for Australia on 10 November.

It has now surfaced that the main topic of conversation during the meeting between BCCI top brass, which could include current secretary Jay Shah, and Gambhir, 43, will be the coach’s vision for the Indian cricket team.

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Gambhir to respond on his vision for Team India

Gambhir and even India captain Rohit Sharma could be asked by the board how they plan to take the national side forward.

“The decision to go back to rank turners caught a few people in the board by surprise. The new support staff under Gautam Gambhir will be asked about their vision for taking the team forward," the Times of India said quoting a source.

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It has also been reported that BCCI could consider revisiting the privileges given to coach Gambhir who was given a free hand to select his own support staff which now includes two foreigners in Morne Morkel and Ryan ten Doeschate. The support staff of the last two coaches – Ravi Shashtri and Rahul Dravid – did not include foreign members.

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Also, Gambhir was allowed to attend the selection committee meeting to pick the squad for the Australia series. This is also against BCCI rule, and Shastri and Dravid were never afforded this privilege.

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“The BCCI has agreed to every demand of Gambhir so far," the source told TOI. “He has been given a support staff of his choice despite BCCI’s policy of promoting coaches they have groomed through NCA’s programme. He has also been allowed to attend the selection meeting to pick the team for the Australia tour. The board may have to revisit its decisions and ask Gambhir for a roadmap."

Sunil Joshi backs Gautam Gambhir 

Meanwhile, the embattled coach Gambhir has found some support from former India spinner and ex-selector Sunil Joshi. The 54-year-old reminded fans of Gambhir’s passion for the Indian cricket team and said it’s too early to judge his credentials as a coach.

“Knowing Gautam Gambhir, he is a fighting cricketer and we know his commitment towards the game or towards the team. No coach will ever want to be on the wrong side of a result. We need to give him time. Let’s now judge by the two series we have seen, just five Test matches. Of course, on home soil, we have lost. I am sure he will also be disappointed with the way the Test matches have gone, but don’t judge his acumen or his commitment,” Joshi told the Times of India.

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The former left-arm spinner added that Gambhir will come out successful at the end of his coaching tenure.

“He is a fighter and he will come out successful. I know that. We have to give time to them (Gambhir and his coaching staff) to settle down. After two years, the results will be in front of us. Then we can judge.”

Gambhir’s contract with the Indian cricket team is till the end of the 2027 ODI World Cup.