BGT 2024-25: Rift in Indian dressing room? BCCI to take call on Gautam Gambhir's future?
Xtra Time Web Desk: Gautam Gambhir's role as India head coach is under scanner hence his performance will be "revaluated" on the basis of India's Champions Trophy performance next month.
Since his appearance as the head coach of the side, India has lost six out of 10 Tests and also a bilateral ODI series in Sri Lanka setting an uncomfortable position for themselves. The results made seniors like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli's future doubtful.
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"If India doesn't do well in the Champions Trophy, the head coach's position could become untenable. Yes, his contract runs till the 2027 World Cup but the process of evaluation continues."
Absenior BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity, "Sport is result-oriented and till now, Gambhir hasn't given any tangible results."
It is quite clear that Gambhir and senior players aren't on the same page on the issue of team culture.
"Gambhir wants to end the superstar culture that has been prevalent for so many years now. As captain of Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012, he had dropped Brendon McCullum from the playing XI for the IPL final against CSK."
"He has come here to dismantle the superstar culture and that's what has caused discomfort for some playing members," a source who has seen Gambhir's functioning closely, said.
"Once, as Delhi Ranji captain, Gambhir decided that they will play home matches at the Roshanara Ground in Delhi North-West where the pitches were green-top."
"But one huge superstar, who was also out of the Indian team, wanted to play the games at the Jamia Milia Islamia ground, which was closer to his south Delhi residence. Gambhir turned him down. Similarly, in the Indian team, he doesn't want star culture to breed," the person added.
On the other hand, the former selector said Gambhir has stated hinting the national selection committee does not want the head coach to have too much of a say in selection matters as he stated, "Either you be like Ravi Shastri, who would be media-friendly, or give those sound bites propping up players making them look like alpha males," said the former selector, who toured a lot during Shastri's tenure as coach."
"Or be like Rahul Dravid, Gary Kirsten or John Wright, who would remain aloof, letting the players hog the limelight."
"The 'Chappell Way' doesn't work in India. Gambhirs or Shastris, or Dravids will go, but players will stay," he added.
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An BCCI official also found irritated on Gambhir's personal assistant shadowing the team everywhere in Australia as he stated, "Why was his PA sitting in the car specified for national selectors? They can't even discuss things in private with an unknown third person in the car. Why was he allotted space in the BCCI's hospitality box in Adelaide?"
"How did he have breakfast in the cordoned-off area of a five-star facility which is just earmarked for the team members?" he asked.