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Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir faces increasing scrutiny following a disappointing 0-3 series loss to New Zealand on home soil. Reports suggest that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is contemplating limiting Gambhir’s influence, particularly in team selection, a level of authority his predecessors Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid did not possess.

Appointed as head coach after Dravid’s departure post-India's T20 World Cup triumph, Gambhir’s tenure has been rocky. His initial tour saw India suffer a 0-2 ODI series loss to Sri Lanka. India managed a Test series win against Bangladesh soon after, but the consecutive whitewash by New Zealand has cast doubt on his leadership approach. 

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Gambhir’s Role Hinges on Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

In a notable departure from the usual protocol, the BCCI permitted Gambhir to attend the selection meeting for India’s upcoming tour of Australia—a privilege traditionally withheld from head coaches. However, this access may be revoked if the team does not perform substantially better in the forthcoming five-match Border-Gavaskar series.

An anonymous BCCI source told the Press Trust of India (PTI), “Gautam Gambhir was given access which his predecessors did not have. The BCCI’s rule book doesn’t allow coaches to participate in the selection committee meetings, but an exception was made for the Australia tour selection meeting, considering the significance of the series.”

This exception underscores the high stakes surrounding the Australia tour, where India must secure a 4-0 win to qualify for the 2025 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. Failure to achieve this may lead to Gambhir’s diminished role or even reconsideration of his position as head coach.

Tactical Choices Raise Eyebrows

Gambhir’s decisions, particularly in the New Zealand series, have drawn criticism. His preference for a spin-friendly pitch in Mumbai for the third Test backfired as India’s batting collapsed under pressure. Furthermore, strategic moves such as deploying pacer Mohammed Siraj as a night-watchman and demoting middle-order batsman Sarfaraz Khan to No. 8 sparked debate, with fans and experts questioning his tactical acumen.

The Border-Gavaskar series is expected to be the decisive factor for Gambhir. A strong performance could solidify his role, but failure to reach the WTC final could lead to reduced authority or even a potential coaching change.

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Harshit Rana, Nitish Reddy Selections in Focus

Adding to the controversy, Gambhir supported the selection of relatively inexperienced Harshit Rana for the Test series against Australia. Rana, with only nine First-Class matches under his belt, was initially kept from joining the India A tour to participate in a Ranji Trophy match but was ultimately released from the team due to illness before making his debut. 

Similarly, Gambhir backed the selection of Nitish Kumar Reddy as a seam-bowling all-rounder in place of Hardik Pandya. Reddy, however, faced difficulties against short-pitched bowling during an ‘A’ game, leading critics to question his readiness for top-level Test cricket. Despite these reservations, Reddy has been named for the Australia tour, marking his maiden call-up to the Test squad.

With mounting pressure from fans and the BCCI, Gambhir’s future now hinges on India’s performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A successful outing against Australia may vindicate his selection decisions and tactical approach, but another setback could see the BCCI take decisive action to limit his powers and restore stability to the Indian cricket team.