New Delhi: The first six months is supposed to be his honeymoon period but three months into the job, India head coach Gautam Gambhir is under pressure after defeats across formats to Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
He took over from Rahul Dravid after India’s T20 World Cup win in June but since then has seen the team getting beaten an ODI series to Sri Lanka for the first time in 27 years, following which New Zealand completed a 3-0 whitewash in Test series.
It was India’s first whitewash in a series of at least three Tests in 91 years, which has forced the Board of Control for Cricket in India to keep an eye on Gambhir’s performance after being appointed with much fanfare.
The former India batter was also accorded special status when he was made part of the selection committee meeting for the five-Test Australia tour that begins on November 22.
He has also been given freedom in player selections and should India fail to perform satisfactorily, that power would be taken away from him.
His tactical acumen have also come under scrutiny after opting for a turning track in Mumbai’s despite India’s struggle against spinners while Imploring them to bat ultra aggressively or sending Mohammed Siraj as a night-watchman and Sarfaraz Khan at No.8.
“Gautam Gambhir was given access which his predecessors Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid didn’t have. The BCCI’s rule book doesn’t allow coaches to be a part of the selection committee meetings, but for Australia tour selection meeting, an exception was made.
“The head coach was allowed to attend considering the magnitude of the tour,” a BCCI source told PTI.
Having his say in player selection
Gambhir has also got his way in including Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Harshit Rana and Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder Nitish Reddy in the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Reddy is viewed as an ideal like for like replacement for seam bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Rather than letting him play in Ranji Trophy, he was used a net bowler for the New Zealand Test series.
If the Australia series doesn’t go according to plans, Gambhir would have a lot to justify.
