Gautam Gambhir’s position as India’s head coach has reportedly come under greater scrutiny within the BCCI following a series of disappointing Test results, with a report claiming some board officials are unhappy with what they perceive as his reluctance to accept responsibility after defeats.
According to , Gambhir remains in charge with the BCCI’s backing, but the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka could become an important assessment of his tenure as India look to revive their World Test Championship campaign.
Report claims BCCI unhappy with ‘passing the buck’ perception
The report states that Gambhir has increasingly become a subject of discussion within the BCCI over what some officials view as a tendency to attribute defeats to players, the Centre of Excellence (CoE) or members of the support staff, rather than taking responsibility as head coach.
Sources quoted by CricBlogger claimed that this perception has also been noticed within the Indian dressing room, although there has been no official confirmation from the BCCI regarding those claims.
Senior players reportedly voiced concerns
According to the report, some senior Indian players have privately communicated reservations about Gambhir’s coaching style to former cricketers and members of the BCCI Apex Council.
The discussions are said to have been informal and no player has publicly commented on the matter.
As a result, the report suggests Gambhir’s leadership is facing greater internal scrutiny than at any stage since he was appointed head coach.
Sri Lanka series could prove significant
India begin a two-Test series against Sri Lanka on August 15 with their World Test Championship campaign at a critical stage.
The report claims the tour is expected to be an important examination of Gambhir’s leadership, with another disappointing series likely to increase pressure on the head coach.
India need victories in seven of their remaining nine Tests to remain firmly in contention for a place in the World Test Championship final.
Gautam Gambhir still retains BCCI support
Despite the reported concerns, CricBlogger says Gambhir continues to enjoy the confidence of the BCCI leadership.
One source quoted in the report described him as the “undisputed authority” within the Indian team, while another noted that the board has backed him by granting significant influence over team management, support staff appointments and decision-making.
However, the same report suggests expectations have also risen accordingly, with officials now looking for improved results to justify that level of trust.
No official comment from BCCI on Gautam Gambhir
Neither the BCCI nor Gambhir has publicly responded to the claims made in the report.
For now, the suggestions of growing dissatisfaction remain unverified beyond the report’s unnamed sources. With India set to begin a crucial Test series in Sri Lanka later this month, performances on the field are likely to shape the conversation around Gambhir’s tenure far more than speculation off it.