Gautam Gambhir and Anil Kumble (Source: AFP)
India's recent performances have once again put the spotlight on head coach Gautam Gambhir. Following the disappointing 2-0 T20I series defeat against Ireland and another poor performance against England, fingers are being raised at the team and Gambhir's coaching setup.
The team's performance has reportedly also prompted the BCCI to assess the team's support staff. Gautam Gambhir joined the Indian backroom team in 2024, and his tenure runs until 2027.
However, with the Indian team not performing well, questions are also being raised about Gambhir's coaching style.
While discussions over Gautam Gambhir’s future continue, this is not the first time an Indian coach has faced an early exit.
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So, in this article, let’s take a look at Indian coaches whose time with the team ended before it was expected to.
Indian Coaches Who Were Forced Out By BCCI
Madan Lal
Madan Lal was the first Indian coach whose tenure ended amid a major dressing-room problem. The 1983 World Cup-winning player was appointed India’s head coach in September 1996; however, his tenure lasted only about a year.
During India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 1997, Madan Lal openly criticised the performances of several senior players in an interview.
Among those reportedly mentioned were Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Robin Singh, Saba Karim, and Anil Kumble.
His remarks did not go down well inside the dressing room, with reports suggesting that several players became unhappy with the coach and communication between the two sides almost completely broke down.
Kapil Dev
The next Indian icon to take over the coaching role and be removed was Kapil Dev. India's World Cup-winning captain was appointed as the head coach in October 1999.
Kapil’s coaching period, however, proved to be a difficult one. India registered a memorable home Test series victory against New Zealand, but the team struggled badly in tough overseas series.
The biggest setback came in 2000, when former India cricketer Manoj Prabhakar alleged that Kapil Dev had attempted to bribe him to underperform in the 1994 tournament in Sri Lanka.
The accusation came during a period when international cricket was already dealing with widespread match-fixing investigations. Kapil Dev strongly denied the allegations and was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
However, with the controversy not ending, Kapil Dev resigned from his position in September 2000 after serving as coach for less than a year. Although reports suggest, he was forced out by those in power in the Indian cricket board.
Anil Kumble
The third name on the list is Anil Kumble, whose coaching tenure was quite different from the other two. Kumble was appointed India’s head coach on June 24, 2016, and enjoyed considerable success during his tenure.
During Anil Kumble's tenure, the Indian team won five consecutive Test series against the West Indies, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and Australia. The ‘Men in Blue’ also reached the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
Despite the impressive results, reports of rift between Kumble and then-captain, Virat Kohli began to emerge before the Champions Trophy.
Soon after India’s defeat to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final in June 2017, Kumble announced his resignation. In a public statement, he revealed that the BCCI had informed him that the captain had concerns about his coaching style and his continuation as head coach.
Conclusion
Although BCCI never accepted that the above mentioned coaches were removed from their job, senior journalists have revealed that all these players did not enjoy great reputation with either the players, fellow coaches, or some admins.
With Gautam Gambhir now facing growing scrutiny after India’s recent performances, the fact that cannot be denied is that the role of India’s head coach is far more than just results on the field.
The dressing-room environment, relationships with senior players and public controversies all play a significant role in determining the future of the head coach.
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