Gautam Gambhir's job as India's head coach is under intense scrutiny following a humiliating home whitewash by South Africa, prompting whispers of a potential sacking in the Test format.
With 10 losses against SENA nations under his belt, including recent collapses against New Zealand and South Africa, BCCI insiders are questioning if the fiery former opener is the right man for red-ball cricket.
Gambhir took over in July 2024 with promise, but India's Test record has soured quickly. The 0-2 defeat to South Africa in November 2025, marked by a 408-run thrashing in Guwahati, exposed deep flaws in batting and bowling. A hard-fought 2-2 draw in England offered brief respite, but nine more World Test Championship matches loom: two in Sri Lanka (August
2026), two in New Zealand (October 2026), and five against Australia at home (January-February 2027).
Unlike Rahul Dravid's stable regime, Gambhir's setup breeds insecurity. Players decry unclear roles, with Shubman Gill's T20 World Cup squad omission pinned on the coach, signaling no one is safe. The change in the vice-captaincy is also another thing which has been glaringly mismanaged. The continuous changes and lack of clarity have been a big problem, which has drawn criticism.
Will Gautam Gambhir lose his job as India head coach?
At the moment, Gambhir's job is safe. Although BCCI has explored options, there is no such hurry within the board to replace Gambhir as head coach. But the T20 World Cup remains a crucial task for the Indian team. With a huge task of defending the title on home soil, a poor outcome can turn the sail against Gambhir.
Title retention or a final could cement Gambhir across formats; failure might result in damaging ramifications. With few alternatives and his backers intact, he's not losing the job yet, but Tests remain his Achilles' heel.
