As per reports, the Board of Cricket for India (BCCI) is mulling over to part ways with India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and India's bowling coach Morne Morkel. The duo may see their tenure come to an end following the conclusion of the Asia Cup 2025. The decision will be independent of the outcome of the current Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. 

But on the contrary, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, who is at the helm, will continue to serve as the head coach for the men's team for the foreseeable future. The Indian coaching staff has come under the scanner following the team's poor show, especially in overseas Test tours. Gambhir, too, has not been able to evade the blame and the wrath of the Indian fans. 

See also: OTD: India defeated Sri Lanka by miles with Shikhar Dhawan's career best total in Test

 

 

 

 

 

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Under Gambhir's mentorship, India stooped to new lows that have previously not been seen with the earlier coaching personnel. The team lost to New Zealand 0-3 at home, recording the first instance ever when a team whitewashed India in a test series at home. Moving on to the Border-Gavaskar Test series in Australia, Gambhir faced a challenging assignment as India were humiliated by 3-1 and missed securing a spot in the WTC final for the first time in three editions. 

As for the current Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the team has shown some fight, but the results have been far from ideal. The hard-fought draw in Manchester has kept India alive, but only just. India are still behind in the series by 1-2, and Gambhir & Co.. could be starting at yet another overseas Test series defeat.

Morkel has also had to share a lot of the blame, especially after the Indian bowlers faltered immensely during the fourth Test, allowing England to comfortably cruise to 669. According to the top BCCI officials, Morkel hasn't been able to bolster the competitive edge of the bowlers. Besides, they also questioned the exact role of ten Doeschate and wondered if he was at all any help to the team. 

These sweeping changes are expected to take effect later in the month of September. A formal communication from the BCCI is awaited in the coming days. As far as the series is concerned, India have one more game to go to square the series 2-2 at the Kia Oval. 

The Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has come under immense fire following his flop show in the recently concluded bilateral series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Since his appointment in early July, Gambhir has been dealing with absolute extremes. It started off with an impressive 3-0 T20I series win in Sri Lanka and a clean sweep against the Tigers at home across formats. 

Questions were raised after India managed to lose an ODI series against Sri Lanka for the first time in 27 years but the loss that perhaps hurts the most is India's humiliating test series defeat at home against a fairly inexperienced New Zealand side. Under his mentorship, India went on to attain a rare unwanted record of being whitewashed for the first time at home in a three-match bilateral series. 

The Rohit Sharma-led Indian side suffered a string of shocking defeats at Bangalore, Pune, and Mumbai as their batters severely faltered against facing spin in their own backyard. There was a growing sense of optimism when Gambhir assumed the coaching role for the Blues but all those talks have now gone for a toss as Gautam Gambhir faces a possible exclusion from his coaching duties if the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy does not go to plan. 

Gambhir's position under threat

According to a report published by Dainik Jagran, there are high chances of Gambhir being replaced by VVS Laxman should the team fail to deliver any possible results in Australia. This move can turn into a reality in the midst of the series as well. Gambhir's role will then be confined to India's white-ball assignments. It is not clear how Gambhir would react to such an unprecedented change but if the BGT series turns out to be closely contested, then the management will have a tough call to make on Gambhir's future as a head coach in the longest format. 

A galloping six-hour scrutiny for Gambhir

The unthinkable Test series sweep against the Kiwis at home is undoubtedly a tough spill to swallow for everyone at BCCI. The management is tightening their scores on Gambhir and is demanding some tough answers from him. As per PTI, Gambhir was reportedly interrogated for six hours straight in a meeting comprising chief selector Ajit Agarkar and India's ODI and Test skipper Rohit Sharma.

In this in-depth review meeting, Gambhir's decision to go with rank turners and rest Bumrah ahead of the crucial third Test and Gambhir's overall coaching style were all put under the scanner. Following such an infamous debacle, such an outcome was expected from the BCCI. The management would obviously like to ensure that the team gets back on track and would gets battle-ready just in time to face the mighty Aussies in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy.  

See also: Details of 6 hours review meeting reveals after India's heartbreaking 0-3 defeat against NZ

Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL) witnessed several remarkable victories that showcased his leadership skills and the team’s resilience. When Gautam Gambhir assumed the role of captaincy for KKR, he faced immense pressure due to the departure of Sourav Ganguly, a beloved figure among fans. The challenge was not just to lead the team but also to win back the support of disillusioned fans.

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On 8th April 2011, Gambhir led the KKR squad onto the field for the first time as captain. Despite the pressure, Gambhir showcased his unique style of leadership, which immediately caught the attention of fans and critics alike.

Despite losing his first match as captain by a narrow margin, Gambhir’s leadership set the tone for the rest of the season. Under his guidance, KKR went on to achieve their best-ever performance in the IPL, reaching the semi-finals for the first time in the franchise’s history.

In subsequent seasons, Gambhir continued to showcase his strategic brilliance, particularly in setting up the field during matches. One notable instance was when he surprised everyone by employing unconventional field placements against MS Dhoni in IPL 2015.

Let’s explore three memorable wins that left an indelible mark in KKR’s IPL journey under Gambhir’s captaincy.

IPL 2012 Final: KKR vs. CSK

In the final match of IPL 2012, KKR faced the formidable Chennai Super Kings (CSK) led by MS Dhoni. It was a high-stakes encounter, with both teams vying for their maiden IPL title. Despite a challenging total of 190 runs set by CSK, KKR’s bowlers delivered a stellar performance, restricting CSK to 190/3. KKR’s chase was anchored by Manvinder Bisla’s blistering knock of 89 runs off 48 balls, guiding the team to their first IPL title with a memorable victory by five wickets.

12th May 2013: KKR vs. RCB

In the 60th match of IPL 2013, KKR faced Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a crucial encounter. With RCB batting first and setting a modest target of 116 runs, KKR’s spin maestro Sunil Narine wreaked havoc, clinching four critical wickets. Despite early setbacks in the chase, Jacques Kallis’s innings of 41* runs steered KKR to victory, showcasing the team’s resilience under pressure and Gambhir’s astute captaincy.

Qualifier 1, IPL 2014: KKR vs. Kings XI Punjab

In Qualifier 1 of IPL 2014, KKR clashed with table-toppers Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) to secure a spot in the final. Opting to bat first, KKR posted a challenging total of 163 runs. The bowlers, led by Umesh Yadav and Morne Morkel, staged a remarkable comeback, restricting KXIP to 135/8. KKR emerged victorious by 28 runs, showcasing their ability to thrive under pressure and setting the stage for their eventual triumph in IPL 2014.