Gautam Gambhir as India's Head Coach (Source:@GoatGambhir97,x.com)
As Gautam Gambhir nears the one-year mark as head coach of the Indian cricket team, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear that his position is not under threat, even if India suffers a humiliating 0-5 whitewash in the ongoing Test series against England.
Gambhir officially took charge last year following Rahul Dravid’s departure after India’s T20 World Cup triumph. Fresh off guiding KKR to an IPL title, his appointment was widely welcomed. But a year on, Gambhir’s tenure has not been very smooth.
Under his leadership, India’s Test performance has raised eyebrows, with just three wins from 11 Tests the team has played. India currently trail 0-1 in the five-match Test series in England, and calls for restructuring the coaching staff are beginning to grow louder.
Split Coaching Debate Resurfaces
One idea gaining attention is split coaching that is keeping Gautam Gambhir for white-ball formats while handing the red-ball team to someone else. However, such a structural shift goes against the idea of how Indian cricket has operated. The BCCI has historically resisted split roles, both in captaincy and coaching.
A BCCI insider revealed that while the option was floated internally after India’s defeat in Australia in the BGT earlier this year, the board ultimately chose continuity over disruption.
"At the moment, Gambhir is doing a good job with a young team. In transition, you do not always get the intended results. Australia and England both struggled during their transitions. So, it’s premature to take a call on Gambhir. We still have four Test matches in England, and we are hopeful that we can turn things around. Beyond that, we will see. He (Gambhir) has full trust of the board," a BCCI official told InsideSport.
England Series A Ultimate Test For Gautam Gambhir
While the BCCI’s backing remains firm, the ongoing England Test series is being closely watched. Should India stage a comeback-win, draw, or lose narrowly, Gambhir’s red-ball credentials may still be intact.
As things stand, Gambhir will remain India’s head coach in all formats. His contract runs until the end of the 2027 World Cup.
 "Sakshi Sharma")
