Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has offered advice to Gautam Gambhir on how to deal with the current situation. Shastri admitted that Gambhir could lose his job if things don’t improve.
“If your performance is poor, you could be fired. Therefore, you need to maintain patience. Communication and man-management skills are crucial here,” Shastri said in an interview with Prabhat Khabar, as reported by Hindustan Times.
“Only then can you motivate the players to win. And that’s what we did. The most important thing is to enjoy whatever you do. Don’t take it as pressure,” he added.
Gambhir has been India’s head coach for about one and a half years, during which he has seen big highs and painful lows. Under him, India won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the Asia Cup 2025 without losing a single match.
But India’s Test cricket form has fallen sharply. India were whitewashed at home by New Zealand and South Africa and also suffered a series loss to Australia in Australia.
Gambhir’s strained relations with senior players
At the same time, Gambhir’s relationship with senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has reportedly become strained. Several reports say the dynamic between them has weakened over time.
On Tuesday, ahead of Wednesday’s match, Kohli and Rohit seemed unbothered by the rumours. They trained intensely together at the nets, while Gambhir watched closely. For days, stories about friction between Gambhir and the senior players have dominated headlines.
Reports also say that selector Pragyan Ojha was sent to Raipur to solve issues between Gambhir and Kohli, as the dressing room atmosphere had reportedly turned tense.
According to PTI, after finishing his practice session, Kohli carried two bats on his shoulder and walked past Gambhir without saying anything – a moment many fans and followers interpreted differently. Rohit Sharma, who finished soon after, did pause briefly to speak with Gambhir.
Next big challenge: T20 World Cup 2026
Gambhir’s next big test as India’s head coach will be the T20 World Cup 2026 at home, where India are expected to be favourites.
The tournament, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, will take place from February 7 to March 8. A total of 20 teams will participate, with Italy making their first-ever appearance. Defending champions India will kick off their campaign against the USA at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on February 7.
