A report claimed that BCCI will have seperate coaches for red and white ball if India loses BGT 2024.
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has slammed reports claiming that if the Indian team loses the upcoming five-Test series (BGT 2024) against Australia down under, then Gautam Gambhir might lose his coaching job and there will be separate coaches for different formats.
Following India's shocking 3-0 series loss to New Zealand at home, an enraged BCCI reportedly held a six-hour meeting with the team's think-tank to examine the disaster.
Soon after, a report said that if India fails to do well in Australia, the BCCI will consider having separate coaches for each format.
Chopra stated that Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma should be held responsible for the shocking setback, but with the head coach barely three months into his post, a change would be premature.
"I feel it is an absolute rumor. This news seems absolutely baseless that if Team India doesn't perform well in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, then change the coach. Have different coaches for different formats. I'd say it's a little too soon. I see this rumor being floated around with malicious intent. Gambhir has just been made the head coach. It does not happen like this if players are not performing, fire the coach. This is not the way. I do not agree with this thinking at all. I am discarding this kind of report," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India's head coach began in July and has been record-breaking but in not-so-good terms. Since he has taken over from Rahul Dravid, India won the T20I series but lost the One-Day International series in Sri Lanka. This was the first time India lost an ODI series to Sri Lanka since 1997.
They then won both the Test and Twenty20 series against Bangladesh at home. Following Bangladesh, the team suffered a surprising whitewash against the Black Caps, losing Tests in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai.
This was first time India lost a Test series at home since 2012 and got whitewashed in a Test series at home since 2000.
Chopra said that Gambhir was given everything he asked for and when results do not go your way, questions will obviously be raised.
"Whatever Gautam asked for, the BCCI gave him. Publicly, Gautam had said in the past that Team India should have Indian coaches but when he asked for Ryan ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel, the board agreed. When Gautam asked for senior players in Sri Lanka, the board said yes to it. Liberty was given in making pitches as well. When so much happens, then accountability is obvious," Chopra explained.
Gautam Gambhir will travel to Australia with Team India for the five-Test series that begins on November 22.