Manoj Tiwary, former India batter and ex teammate of Gautam Gambhir has sparked a major debate over the future of the head coach with the Indian men's cricket team, linking his tenure directly to Men in Blue's
performance at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. According to Tiwary, failure to defend the title could force the BCCI to take a bold and controversial decision.
India, currently the world's No. 1 T20I side, are widely tipped as favourites for the upcoming tournament. Their strong form and the advantage of playing matches on home soil only strengthen expectations. However, despite India's impressive record in T20Is under Gambhir, inconsistent performances in Tests and ODIs have fuelled growing scrutiny of his leadership.
Speaking to InsideSport, Tiwary suggested that the T20 World Cup could become a decisive moment for Gambhir's future. "I think if India fail to win the T20 World Cup, then BCCI will have to take a big decision. " He further added, "It will be a tough decision because the BCCI secretary has said that Gambhir will fulfil his contract, which is till 2027. Because there is no question about removing him. But I think if India doesn't win the T20 World Cup, then BCCI will have to take a big call, and they will remove him. "
Gambhir was appointed head coach in July 2024 and initially delivered encouraging results in the shortest format. Yet, India's struggles in longer formats have raised doubts about whether his approach is sustainable across all formats of the game.
Tiwary also proposed a potential successor, naming VVS Laxman as an ideal candidate to take over if a change becomes inevitable. Highlighting Laxman's experience and temperament, he said the former India batter has already proven his credentials during stints as stand-in coach.
"It has to be a process-driven thing. When Rahul Dravid was India's coach and if he used to miss any series, the natural choice was VVS Laxman. Laxman, being the head coach, has always had a good winning percentage. In my opinion, the BCCI should convince him because he is a level-headed guy, and he is a very good human being as well. He has the coaching experience as well. "
With the T20 World Cup approaching, the pressure on Gambhir is set to intensify. Whether the BCCI will actually consider such a dramatic move remains uncertain, but Tiwary's remarks have added a new layer of intrigue to India's preparations for the global event.
