Gautam Gambhir set to be sacked as India head coach? Check details
Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary believes that the BCCI will take a bold call and remove Gautam Gambhir from the head coach position if the Indian team fails to defend the T20 World Cup title on home soil. With this, he sparked a new buzz over the future of the Indian cricket team’s head coaches.
Gautam Gambhir became India’s head coach in July 2024. Under his guidance, India has yet to lose any bilateral T20I series. In T20Is, India has already defeated Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Australia in away tours. During the home series, India defeated Bangladesh, England, South Africa, and New Zealand. Apart from that, India also won the Asia Cup 2025, without losing any match.
However, the Indian team suffered from major challenges in the longer format. In tests, India lost home test series against New Zealand and South Africa, while India also lost BGT 2024/25 in away tours. Apart from that, India also lost an away ODI series against Sri Lanka and recently a home ODI series against New Zealand. Well, India also won the Champions Trophy 2025 title under his coaching tenure. Tiwary stated the 10th edition of the T20 World Cup will be very crucial for Gautam Gambhir’s future.
“If India doesn't win the T20 World Cup, then I think that the BCCI should take a big and difficult decision regarding Gautam Gambhir. The BCCI secretary has already stated that Gambhir will continue until his contract expires, and there is no question of removing him,” Tiwary said.
“But I think the 2026 T20 World Cup—if the result doesn't come in this, then the BCCI will remove him and take a big call,” he added.
Tiwary also named VVS Laxman as India’s next head coach if BCCI sacks Gautam Gambhir from the head coach position in future. Mentioning Laxman’s experience & his deputy coaching period, he said the BCCI might convince him for a full-time role.
“I think it has to be a process-driven thing. When Rahul Dravid was the coach and didn't go on certain tours, VVS Laxman used to go. So he was the natural choice,” said Tiwary.
“I think the BCCI should look to convince Laxman because he is a level-headed guy, and he's a good human being. He has the experience of coaching as well, so the BCCI should look to convince him,” he added.
The Indian team is in Group A, along with arch-rivals Pakistan, the United States of America (USA), Namibia, and the Netherlands. Team’s group stage campaign will begin on the opening day (February 07), when Suryakumar Yadav & co. will face the United States of America (USA) at Wankhede Stadium. Following this, India will face Namibia on Feb 12 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Pakistan on Feb 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, and the Netherlands on Feb 18 at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad.
