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BCCI springs into action as reports emerge of Gautam Gambhir’s sacking

Debashis Sarangi

Gautam Gambhir [Source: AFP]Gautam Gambhir [Source: AFP]

In a major development, sources from the BCCI have denied Gautam Gambhir's sacking as India's head coach amid the team's underwhelming performance in Test cricket. On Saturday, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that the BCCI approached former cricketer VVS Laxman to replace Gambhir as the Indian Test coach. However, a fresh report from NDTV has shed light on the matter, with a BCCI official dismissing the rumours. 

BCCI source dismisses Gautam Gambhir's sacking claims

Although Gautam Gambhir has delivered results as a white-ball coach, leading India to the title in the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup, the former opener's performance as a Test coach has been disappointing, to say the least. 

India's dream Test run on home soil was broken in Gambhir's tenure, with New Zealand crushing the hosts by three-nil last year. If that wasn't enough, India suffered a humiliating defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy before conceding another whitewash to a visiting South African side earlier this year. 

Considering the Test team's abysmal performance, the BCCI apparently approached VVS Laxman in a bid to hand him over India's red-ball coaching duties, a PTI report claimed. However, a senior BCCI official denied the reports, clarifying that the board hasn't had any conversation with Laxman regarding the matter. 

The BCCI official also assured that Gautam Gambhir would continue coaching the red-ball team despite the outcomes not going India's way in recent times. 

"We have not spoken to VVS Laxman either officially or unofficially. The BCCI has complete trust in Gautam Gambhir, and no discussion has been held regarding this matter," the BCCI official was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports. 

Therefore, although Gambhir hasn't achieved anything significant beyond a home series win over the West Indies and a drawn series in England, the BCCI will likely continue with him as India's Test coach until his contract expires after the 2027 World Cup. 

India's WTC final chances shrink after SA home series drubbing

The Indian side recently suffered an embarrassing 2-0 defeat at home to South Africa. Besides raising serious questions over Gambhir's credentials as a red-ball coach, India's disastrous performance against the Proteas significantly jeopardised their chances of qualifying for the WTC final. 

As things stand, the Shubman Gill-led side is reeling at sixth, with Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa racing for the top two spots in the nine-team standings.