Things aren’t as rosy as they seemed back in July. Gautam Gambhir, who’d started with a T20I clean sweep against Sri Lanka, will become the first India cricket team head coach to lose a Test series to Australia since 2014 if the Sydney Test doesn’t go Team India‘s way.
Questions are being raised over his selections, tactics, and man-management skills. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who were happy to replace Rahul Dravid with Gambhir back then, aren’t so pleased at this moment. Not only is Team India down 1-2 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, but they are also coming from a first-ever home Test whitewash.
Gambhir & players still coming to terms
Gambhir had let players be at their devices since taking over. But the Melbourne loss, in which several players made decisions that weren’t deemed in the team’s best interest, has forced Gambhir to take a different approach. “He (Gambhir) has let the players be so far. Now, he must take responsibility and come to the fore,” a BCCI source told the Times of India.
Unlike the past head coaches, who were forthcoming to those who missed out, Gambhir hasn’t had a chat with those missing out. Many of the players played under the last management and are still figuring things out under Gambhir. “The young players who are missing out even from the XI are not being talked to yet. It could make them doubt themselves. The previous team managements were more empathetic and spoke a lot to the players. The players are still adjusting to Gambhir’s new ways,” the source added.
Gambhir learning that, coaching Team India not the same as IPL franchise
Having led the Kolkata Knight Riders to a title last year, it seems Gambhir might be treating the job of a Team India head coach like that of an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise mentor or coach. “There’s no harm in having a vision. But there needs to be a definite one. Gambhir is trying to balance things. In doing so, he is figuring out the players he wants to back. It’s almost like he is still struggling to come to of how an IPL franchise functions. There are proven performers in the team. He is mindful of not disturbing them,” the source said.
Miscommunication between BCCI selectors & Gambhir
There have been a few head-scratchers. They started with Washington Sundar playing over Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in Perth but not getting selected in Adelaide or Brisbane. Harshit Rana somehow earned a maiden Test call-up and then a cap despite not having anything to show for while Mukesh Kumar got ignored despite being in line before Harshit or Prasidh Krishna.
“If one goes by the team sheets that the team management has released in the last four Test tours, there are players missing out from featuring in the 15 when they were initially picked as the top 15 players to travel to Australia. It clearly shows there’s a lack of clarity between the selectors and the team management,” the source concluded.
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