Since Gambhir took over in July last year, the Indian team has lost six out of 10 Tests and also a bilateral ODI series in Sri Lanka.
The results have left Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s international future in significant disarray thanks to their own poor form.
But Gambhir’s position has also become slightly shaky. Adding to the drama is his speculated rift with prominent players during the Border-Gavaskar Test series in Australia which India lost 1-3.
“If India doesn’t do well in the Champions Trophy, the head coach’s position could become untenable. Yes, his contract runs till the 2027 World Cup but the process of evaluation continues.
There has already been a review of the team’s performance in Australia by the BCCI. It is understood that Gambhir and senior players aren’t on the same page on the issue of team culture.
“Gambhir wants to end the superstar culture that has been prevalent for so many years now. As captain of Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012, he had dropped Brendon McCullum from the playing XI for the IPL final against CSK.
“He has come here to dismantle the superstar culture and that’s what has caused discomfort for some playing members,” a source, who has seen Gambhir’s functioning closely, said.
He cited another instance from his Delhi playing days to explain Gambhir’s mindset.
“Once, as Delhi Ranji captain, Gambhir decided that they will play home matches at the Roshanara Ground in Delhi North-West where the pitches were green-top.
“But one huge superstar, who was also out of the Indian team, wanted to play the games at the Jamia Milia Islamia ground, which was closer to his south Delhi residence. Gambhir turned him down. Similarly, in the Indian team, he doesn’t want star culture to breed,” the person added.
It is learnt that the head coach was not pleased with how some star players gave specific demands about hotels and practice timings during the tour of Australia. But, on the other side, senior players have felt a lack of communication from his end.
Selection committee’s take
Amid this ongoing tussle is the view of the national selection committee, which does not want the head coach to have too much of a say in selection matters. A former selector said Gambhir has shown shades of mercurial former coach Greg Chappell in his approach.
The Australian, who came amid much fanfare, left in chaos after developing differences with senior players over his training methods.
“Either you be like a Ravi Shastri, who would be media-friendly, give those sound bites propping up players making them look like alpha males,” said the former selector, who toured a lot during Shastri’s tenure as coach.
“Or be like Rahul Dravid, Gary Kirsten or John Wright, who would remain aloof, letting the players hog the limelight.
“The ‘Chappell Way’ doesn’t work in India. Gambhirs or Shastris or Dravids will go but players will stay,” he added.
The BCCI brass is also upset with how Gambhir’s personal assistant shadowed the team everywhere in Australia.
“Why was his PA sitting in the car specified for national selectors? They can’t even discuss things in private with an unknown third person in the car. Why was he allotted space in the BCCI’s hospitality box in Adelaide?,” an irritated BCCI official said.
“How did he have breakfast in the cordoned off area of a five-star facility which is just earmarked for the team members?” he asked.
With the drama picking pace with every passing day, it would not be wrong to say that it is a very uneasy Indian dressing room that is heading into the Champions Trophy from February 19 to March 9
