'Senior' India players flag Gambhir's coaching style to BCCI

India's men's cricket team is once again in the spotlight, but this time for reasons off the field. According to a report, some senior India players have privately approached BCCI officials to raise concerns about head coach Gautam Gambhir's coaching style. However, neither the BCCI nor Gambhir has officially commented on the claims.

The report comes at an important time, with the Sri Lanka Test series approaching and less than a year remaining before the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup. While India have enjoyed success in white-ball cricket under Gambhir, the report claims that the team's recent red-ball performances have raised questions among some players and stakeholders.

The report also states that Gambhir has lost the support of some officials within the BCCI and members of the team. It further claims that some board officials believe the head coach has often blamed players, the Centre of Excellence (CoE), or the support staff for defeats instead of taking responsibility for team decisions. These claims remain unverified, and no official response has been issued by the BCCI or Gambhir.

Senior India players reportedly raise concerns with BCCI over Gautam Gambhir's coaching style

According to a report, some senior India players have privately shared their concerns about Gautam Gambhir's coaching style with former India cricketers and members of the BCCI. The discussions were reportedly informal, and neither the BCCI nor Gambhir has officially responded to the claims.

The report adds that Gambhir continues to have the backing of the BCCI. However, some board officials reportedly believe he has not fully justified the greater control he has been given over the team setup, including the appointment of his preferred support staff and a larger role in decision-making.

The report also claims that Gambhir avoided major criticism after India's defeats to South Africa and Australia, with much of the blame falling on the players. It further states that he faced criticism on social media for describing the team's struggles as part of a "transition," despite earlier saying there was "nothing like a transition" when he took charge.

What's behind the rift? Dressing room friction after Test whitewashes vs NZ & SA

According to a report, concerns over Gautam Gambhir's coaching style grew after India's poor run in Test cricket. The report claims that some senior players privately shared their concerns with BCCI officials and former India cricketers following disappointing performances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and other Test series.

India's results in red-ball cricket have come under scrutiny during Gambhir's tenure. The team suffered a 3-0 home series defeat to New Zealand, lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, and later lost a 2-0 home Test series to South Africa. Following the Australia tour, Gambhir reportedly insisted that players must play domestic cricket to retain their places in the Test side, a decision that reportedly did not go down well with some senior players.

The report also claims that some BCCI officials believe Gambhir has often blamed players, the Centre of Excellence (CoE), or the support staff for defeats instead of taking responsibility for team management decisions. Despite these reported concerns, India have enjoyed success under Gambhir in white-ball cricket, winning the Asia Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, and ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Neither the BCCI nor Gambhir has officially responded to the claims.

Is Gambhir's job on the line? Where BCCI stands as the Sri Lanka series looms

India's next assignment is a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27. India are currently fifth in the WTC standings with four wins, four losses, and one draw, making the upcoming series important for their campaign.

India's Test record under Gautam Gambhir has come under scrutiny after a series of disappointing results. The team suffered a 3-0 home series defeat to New Zealand, a 0-2 home loss to South Africa, and a disappointing Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign in Australia. However, India also managed a creditable 2-2 draw in England, showing signs of improvement away from home.

The Sri Lanka series could be another tough challenge for Gambhir, with several key players unavailable due to injuries. Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana have all been ruled out. Despite recent reports about concerns over Gambhir's coaching style, there has been no official indication from the BCCI that his position as head coach is under threat.