The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly losing patience with Gautam Gambhir, whose position as India’s head coach is now under serious threat. Gambhir was brought in to make the team tougher and more aggressive, but recent results have gone in the opposite direction.
India suffered a heavy 76-run defeat against South Africa in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026, a loss that badly damaged both confidence and qualification hopes. There is growing dissatisfaction over Gautam Gambhir’s handling of players, questionable tactical decisions, and a poor Test record.
The ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is being seen as his final opportunity. If India fail to reach the semi-finals, the BCCI is expected to part ways with him. With India’s net run rate slipping to -3.800, an early exit without reaching the semi-finals remains a strong possibility.
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From IPL Success To India Head Coach Journey
Gautam Gambhir became one of the most successful coaches in the IPL. The former opener worked with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as a mentor. He helped the Lucknow Super Giants reach the playoffs in two straight seasons and later guided the Knight Riders to the IPL 2024 title.
Gambhir made bold decisions during KKR’s title-winning campaign. He pushed Sunil Narine to open the batting again, which worked well, and backed young players who stepped up as match-winners.
Following his success, the BCCI appointed Gambhir as India’s head coach after Rahul Dravid stepped down. The board wanted a tough and fearless leader who could help India win ICC trophies.
Fans welcomed Gambhir’s arrival and liked his direct style. However, it soon became clear that coaching an IPL team for a short season is very different from handling the national team throughout the year.
Gautam Gambhir’s Record In White-ball Cricket As Head Coach
Gautam Gambhir’s record in white-ball cricket has not been the main reason behind the criticism he is facing. Before the heavy loss to South Africa in Ahmedabad during the T20 World Cup 2026, India were performing well in T20 cricket and went nearly a year without losing a T20 series.
India have also produced mixed results in ODIs. They lost a recent ODI series against New Zealand 1-2 at home last month. Gambhir worked on building a side that did not rely on just a few big names and instead focused on players who could change games quickly.
Despite the positive results, questions remain about the overall impact of Gambhir’s planning. Many believe India won several matches in the T20 World Cup due to individual brilliance rather than clear tactical decisions.
Gautam Gambhir Wins 2 Big Trophies
Gautam Gambhir has won two major trophies during his career. India, under Rohit Sharma won the Champions Trophy 2025, which was played in Pakistan and the UAE. The Men in Blue secured the ICC title in the 50-over event after 12 years. India lifted the global title in his first ICC tournament as head coach.
Gautam Gambhir earned support from fans and the board after that win. A few months later, the former opening batter guided the national team to victory in the Asia Cup 2025 under Suryakumar Yadav. These two tournament wins helped build his image as a coach who could handle pressure games.
However, past success has not protected him from criticism. Poor results in Test cricket have already damaged his reputation. It is worth mentioning that the Suryakumar Yadav-led team’s performance in the T20 World Cup 2026 could decide his future as head coach.
India Suffer And Struggle In Test Cricket Under Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir’s biggest problems as head coach have come in Test cricket, and the BCCI are unhappy with him. India’s long-standing dominance at home broke under his leadership, ending a period when visiting teams rarely won Test series in the country.
New Zealand defeated India 3-0 at home in late 2024. It was the first time India had ever been whitewashed in a home Test series. The Men in Blue also lost the Test series 3-1 in Australia and failed to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final for the first time.
The situation worsened the following year when South Africa toured India and won the series 2-0, including a crushing 408-run victory in Guwahati in November 2025.
Before the series loss to the Proteas, the Shubman Gill-led side drew the five-match series in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and whitewashed the West Indies in a two-match home Test series.
Tensions between Gautam Gambhir and senior players
Gautam Gambhir’s time as head coach has also seen tension inside the dressing room. He wants full control and does not like senior players getting special treatment. According to reports, his strict rules have upset many experienced players.
After India’s poor Test series loss in Australia, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned to domestic cricket to stay in contention for Test spots. However, the veteran duo shocked the cricket community by announcing their retirement from Test cricket just ahead of the England tour.
The official reason was that they wanted to move on, but people close to the team said the dressing room atmosphere had turned toxic.
Former India player Manoj Tiwary even claimed that Gambhir forced both Rohit and Virat into retirement. The team environment feels very strict, and players seem scared of making mistakes, which has raised serious concerns about morale under Gautam Gambhir.
Gautam Gambhir’s Tactical Decisions That Shocked Cricket
Gautam Gambhir made several tactical calls that surprised and frustrated many. He dropped vice-captain Axar Patel, one of India’s most consistent performers, for the first Super 8 match against South Africa in Ahmedabad on Sunday, February 22.
Gambhir backed Washington Sundar, believing an off-spinner would be effective against South Africa’s left-handed batters. The move backfired badly, as Sundar bowled only two overs, conceded 17 runs, and took no wickets. He also failed to contribute with the bat.
The decision drew criticism from former India captain Kris Srikkanth, who called the defeat embarrassing and questioned why the vice-captain was left out. Gambhir has also shuffled the batting order, promoted lower-order batters without clear reason, and continued to overlook Kuldeep Yadav.
The Very First Big Test – T20 World Cup 2026
The T20 World Cup 2026 has become the biggest test so far for Gautam Gambhir. India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, entered the tournament as defending champions after winning the title in 2024, and fans expected the team to repeat that success.
The Men in Blue remained unbeaten in the group stage. They defeated arch-rivals Pakistan and smaller teams like the USA, the Netherlands, and Namibia without much trouble. However, their performance was not satisfactory.
The real challenge began in the Super 8 stage when India came up against a strong side like South Africa. The aggressive batting approach looked careless, with batters throwing away their wickets by playing risky shots.
Notably, the bowling unit had no clear backup plan. Indian bowlers took three wickets for 20 runs but failed to maintain the pressure. They were bowled out for just 111 runs while chasing a target of 188. The heavy loss raised fresh questions about Gambhir’s methods.
India On The Verge Of T20 World Cup 2026 Exit
| India – T20 World Cup 2026 Match Results | ||||||
|
Match No. |
Stage | Opponent | Venue | India Score | Opponent Score | Result |
| 3rd Match | Group A | USA | Wankhede | 161/9 | 132/8 | India won by 29 runs |
| 18th Match | Group A | Namibia | Delhi | 209/9 | 116 | India won by 93 runs |
| 27th Match | Group A | Pakistan | Colombo (RPS) | 175/7 | 114 | India won by 61 runs |
| 36th Match | Group A | Netherlands | Ahmedabad | 193/6 | 176/7 | India won by 17 runs |
| 43rd Match | Super Eights | South Africa | Ahmedabad | 111 | 187/7 | South Africa won by 76 runs |
India are placed second-last in Group 1 with a net run rate of -3.800, leaving them with very little margin for error. After their 76-run loss to South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium, India missed out on crucial points and took a heavy hit on their net run rate.
To stay in contention without relying on net run rate, India must beat Zimbabwe and the West Indies in their remaining Super 8 matches in Chennai and Kolkata. They will also need South Africa to win their remaining two games.
In that case, South Africa would finish with six points and India with four, sending both teams through to the semi-finals. If India win both matches but South Africa beat Zimbabwe and lose to the West Indies, then India, South Africa, and the West Indies would all finish on four points.
The West Indies are at the top of Group 1 with two points and a net run rate of +5.350. South Africa are second with two points and a net run rate of +3.800. For the defending champions, an exit at the Super 8 stage would be a major setback.
What’s Next For Gautam Gambhir
The future of Gautam Gambhir could change quickly in the coming days. If the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decides to sack him after a T20 World Cup exit, Gambhir would end his tenure early. He had signed a contract with the BCCI until the ICC ODI World Cup 2027.
According to reports from Dainik Jagran, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) have made a huge offer to Gambhir for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The franchise wants him to take on three roles, including CEO, mentor, and partner with a stake in the team.
Gambhir cannot accept the offer at present because BCCI rules do not allow the India head coach to work with an IPL franchise. However, if he loses his job after the World Cup, that restriction would no longer apply, and he could move straight into the role with Rajasthan Royals.
The next few days are critical for Indian cricket and for Gambhir’s career. He is fighting to save his position and needs results, luck, and strong performances from his players. If India fail again, his stint as head coach is expected to end with a swift exit.
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