![Senior players reportedly unhappy with Gautam Gambhir [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1785763533185_Gautam_Gambhir_India.jpg?type=hq)
Senior players reportedly unhappy with Gautam Gambhir [Source: AFP]
India’s upcoming Test tour of Sri Lanka may well turn out to be a litmus test for head coach Gautam Gambhir. Amid India’s disastrous World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27, several Indian players are reportedly of the opinion that coach Gambhir has often escaped from shouldering responsibility for a defeat.
It is understood that some senior players of the Indian cricket team have also conveyed their reservations about his coaching style to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“Passing the buck” narrative haunts coach Gautam Gambhir
As reported by CricBlogger, several members of the Indian cricket team and BCCI officials are alleging that coach Gautam Gambhir has a tendency of shifting the blame whenever the team suffers a defeat.
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It is worth noting that over the past few months, several reports claimed that Gambhir has been accused of attributing India’s losses to either underperforming players or to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE).
The recent report states that some senior Indian players have now conveyed their reservations about his coaching style to the BCCI. While there is no official confirmation regarding the same, the rumors have only added to the already-existing scrutiny surrounding the former Indian opener and current head coach.
Sri Lanka tour a litmus test for Gautam Gambhir
If the rumors are true, India’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka holds much significance for Gautam Gambhir. With India already struggling in the 2025-27 WTC cycle, another series defeat might put Gambhir’s position in the team under more pressure.
The Indian cricket team, currently placed fifth on the 2025-27 WTC points table, will be taking on Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series between August 15 and August 27 this month in Galle and Colombo.
How has Gautam Gambhir fared as India coach?
Gautam Gambhir holds a topsy-turvy track record as head coach of the Indian cricket team. The former opening batter took over as India’s head coach in mid-2024 after the exit of Rahul Dravid.
Since taking over, the ‘Men in Blue’ have suffered crushing ODI series defeats in Sri Lanka (away), Australia (away) and New Zealand (home).
Moreover, under his tenure, the Indian team also succumbed to humiliating Test series whitewashes at home to New Zealand and South Africa, both within the space of a year. In early 2025, Team India also conceded its BGT title back to Australia for the first time in a decade.
However, Team India has enjoyed an unprecedented run in white-ball multi-nation ICC tournaments under him, winning the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2025 Asia Cup (both in Dubai), before lifting the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at home earlier this year.
In spite of his stellar record in ICC events, Gautam Gambhir has been often accused of over-experimentation in squad composition and for favoritism towards certain players.
His constant tinkering with the team composition, coupled with underperforming players, recently led to India’s three successive white-ball series defeats in Ireland and England in a month.
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