New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has no plans to replace Gautam Gambhir as India’s head coach, despite the team’s mixed performance in the five-day format under his tenure. Gambhir, the former Delhi left-handed batter, took charge of the Indian team in July 2024 following Rahul Dravid’s departure. Since then, India has won only seven out of 19 Tests under his guidance.
During his stint, India registered notable victories, including one Test in Australia last year and two in England this year. However, the team also faced heavy defeats, including 0-3 and 0-2 whitewashes at home against New Zealand and South Africa, respectively. Gambhir has now lost five home Tests, the highest for any India head coach, and is the only coach to be whitewashed twice in home series. These results have fueled calls for his removal, at least from the Test format.
Addressing the speculation, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla clarified that there is no plan to remove Gambhir or bring in a replacement. A day earlier, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had also dismissed rumours linking VVS Laxman to the role. Shukla stated, “I want to make it very clear regarding the speculation circulating in the media about head coach Gautam Gambhir. There is no plan to remove or bring in a new head coach for India.”
Gambhir’s current contract runs until November 2027, and he is expected to remain in charge for the foreseeable future. India’s upcoming Test commitments include a series against Sri Lanka in August 2026, followed by two Tests in New Zealand, and the final series of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle against Australia in early 2027. India will need to secure at least seven wins in the remaining nine matches to qualify for the WTC 2027 final.
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