ICC Champions Trophy could decide Gautam Gambhir's fate as India coach

Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as Team India head coach heavily depends on how the Rohit Sharma-led side does in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Gautam took over Rahul Dravid as head coach post the jubilation of the T20 World Cup 2022. India were the world-beaters back then but now, the Men in Blue are at an all-time low. Gambhir has failed to inspire the team, with several issues boiling down. Whether on-field or off-field, the cracks are there to be seen. But now, according to reports, Gambhir’s final test could be the ICC Champions Trophy.

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Goodbye Gautam Gambhir?

Ever since becoming Team India’s head coach, Gambhir has seen more failures than success. India lost an ODI series in Sri Lanka after 27 years. New Zealand scripted a cleansweep in a Test series in India, becoming the first team to do so in this century. Then came the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), a series India lost since 2014/15 until the recently concluded tour. All this came under Gambhir’s tutelage.

“If India doesn’t do well in the Champions Trophy, the head coach’s position could become untenable. Yes, his contract runs till the 2027 World Cup but the process of evaluation continues. Sport is result-oriented and till now, Gambhir hasn’t given any tangible results,” a senior BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

Given the resources, talent, and money India have, a single loss comes under massive scrutiny. Now that the nation is enduring a loss after loss, Gambhir is under massive pressure. As per PTI’s BCCI source, Gambhir’s position could become “untenable” if India doesn’t do well in the ICC Champions Trophy.

Rohit Sharma-Gautam Gambhir not good combo?

While BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla rebuffed any rumours of rift between the captain Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir, fans still feel there might still be some animosity in the dressing room. Hence, BCCI organised a BGT review meeting on January 11, where all the stakeholders of the team were present, including Rohit and Gambhir.

But the Gautam Gambhir-Rohit Sharma partnership has hardly brought any dividends for the team. Not only are we losing, but are also losing our pride. Just imagine India losing their first Test series at home since 2012 vs England after a span of 18 series’. In fact, this was only the second whitewash the team suffered at home, after the infamous IND vs SA series in 2000.

The problems have not ended here for this Gambhir-Rohit duo. This IND vs NZ series loss, has opened a Pandora’s Box for our team. Since this is the first time that India lost a Test vs NZ at home in 36 years. Rohit Sharma’s men also suffered their first-ever Test defeat in Bengaluru in 19 years. Then came the BGT tour. India’s stalwart Rohit and Kohli were in a horrible slump and Gambhir’s tactics didn’t reap any rewards either.

Cricket ICC Champions Trophy India Cricket Team Gautam Gambhir Rohit Sharma