Report: Gautam Gambhir to Take on Role Not Pursued by Rahul Dravid or Ravi Shastri
Gautam Gambhir to Travel with India ‘A’ Team to England
With the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy, international cricket has come to a halt for the Indian team. The players have now dispersed and reported to their respective Indian Premier League franchises for a 2-month long campaign. However, head coach Gautam Gambhir is looking to stay active by lining up with the India ‘A’ team ahead of the senior side’s tour of England in June. It has been reported that Gambhir is set to become the first Team India head coach to travel with the A side for an overseas tour.
Breaking the Trend
In recent years, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been utilizing their National Cricket Academy coaches for assignments with the India A and U19 teams. Coaches like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have been entrusted with guiding the junior teams during such tours. After Dravid transitioned to become Team India’s head coach, the India A and U19 teams’ responsibilities were passed on to Laxman and other coaches.
However, Gambhir is eager to break the trend and has already informed the board of his intentions. Unlike his predecessors, Rahul Dravid and Ravi Shastri, who did not tour with the India A team while still being the head coaches of the Indian senior team, Gambhir is set for a unique assignment.
According to a report in the Times of India, it is yet to be determined whether Gambhir will travel to England as a mere spectator or as part of the India A team’s coaching staff. Following India’s disappointing campaign in Australia, Gambhir is keen to assist the nation’s red-ball team in bouncing back. In-depth analysis of the talent pool is crucial to this task.
Gambhir’s Vision
“Gambhir has been in discussions with the BCCI since his return from Australia. He has expressed his desire to travel with the India ‘A’ team to gain a clearer view of the reserve pool,” a BCCI source revealed. “With India winning the Champions Trophy after Gambhir’s insistence on certain wild card players, one may expect him to assert more in the future.”
Gambhir also believes that the number of India ‘A’ tours organized by the board is currently insufficient. He advocates for more such assignments to be scheduled to nurture young talent.
“One of the crucial issues identified is reviving India ‘A’ tours. There have been only a handful of ‘A’ series after Dravid left the NCA, and all of those were shadow tours for a marquee series. Gambhir too believes that there needs to be more ‘A’ tours. That’s why he wants to take stock of the situation firsthand,” the source added.
Gambhir’s proactive approach towards nurturing young talent and his willingness to be hands-on with the India ‘A’ team showcases his commitment to the development of cricket in India. His unique initiative to travel with the junior team to England sets a new precedent for future head coaches to actively engage with the talent pipeline of Indian cricket.