BCCI to Review Gambhir’s Leadership After Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Underwhelming performances and scathing criticism surround Gautam Gambhir’s early days as India’s head coach. Having taken a 0-3 defeat at home in the hands of New Zealand, and after allowing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia slip further out of his hands, sources indicate that BCCI has shortlisted his performances for review right after the end of the series.
Appointments by Support Staff Face Review
The major chunk of the review would be the appointments that Gambhir made for his support staff. Gambhir has brought Abhishek Nayar as batting-cum-assistant coach and Ryan ten Doeschate as fielding coach, both of whom were working with him during the stint with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Though Gambhir had confirmed the appointments, he had clarified that they were assistant coaches and not specifically batting or fielding coaches. This has now faced scrutiny, more so with key players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continuing to have the same issues with their game. The ongoing struggles of major players are said to be part of the key points in review.
Communication issues with young players
There are also reports of concerns over Gambhir’s communication skills, especially with the younger lot of players who do not feature in the playing XI. Gambhir has been termed “minimal and very objective” in his approach, especially during Team India’s tour of Australia. This is a stark contrast to the empathetic communication that players were used to under former coach Rahul Dravid. This is said to have caused dissatisfaction, especially among those who feel they require more guidance and motivation.
As the BCCI gets ready to hold its review, most of the attention will be given to whether Gambhir can iron out the technical and communication problems that have been ailing the team. The result of this review will be critical in deciding the course of Team India’s leadership and whether Gambhir can remain the head coach. The performance of the team, including key players and the support staff, will play a major role in the final decision regarding his tenure.