By Dipanjan Chatterjee | Indian Press Union


The Indian cricket team's support staff could be on the verge of a major reshuffle, with reports suggesting that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is preparing to review the current coaching structure following the conclusion of the ongoing England tour. While no official announcement has been made, multiple developments indicate that changes within Gautam Gambhir's backroom staff could be imminent.

According to a BCCI source, at least one prominent member of Gambhir's support staff is expected to leave the Indian setup, with another coach also weighing his future. The report further claims that one senior coach has already held discussions with an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise with a global presence and is likely to join its coaching unit.

Importantly, the report stresses that these developments are not a direct consequence of India's recent performances in England or Ireland. Instead, the issues have reportedly been brewing behind the scenes for several months.

Gautam Gambhir assumed the role of India's head coach in July 2024, beginning his tenure with the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. He assembled a support staff comprising assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, bowling coach Morne Morkel, fielding coach T. Dilip and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. Later, following India's ICC Champions Trophy triumph in 2025, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak joined the setup after Nayar was relieved of his responsibilities.

The BCCI source reveals that Gambhir's coaching group signed a 2+1-year contract with the BCCI. While both parties have the option of extending the agreement by another year, indications suggest that at least one coach has chosen to explore opportunities in franchise cricket instead.

One of the most significant revelations concerns the atmosphere inside the Indian dressing room. According to the source, cracks within the camp have widened since India's home Test series defeat to South Africa. Sources claim that the dressing room is "not the happiest place to be at the moment," with disagreements between the selection committee and the coaching staff further complicating matters.

Although no individual has been named or officially blamed, the reported differences have fuelled speculation that the BCCI may opt for a fresh coaching structure ahead of India's upcoming assignments.

Another notable development is the growing role of former India spinner Sairaj Bahutule. The report suggests that his appointment as spin-bowling coach is not merely a temporary arrangement. Bahutule had previously served as interim bowling coach during India's 2024 Sri Lanka tour when Morne Morkel was unavailable because of a family emergency. His continued involvement is now being viewed as part of the board's long-term planning.

It also raises questions over the BCCI's decision to send VVS Laxman to oversee India's Zimbabwe tour instead of Gambhir's regular coaching group. A well-placed source reportedly questioned the move, pointing out that Gambhir's support staff had already enjoyed a lengthy break during the IPL season and that the Zimbabwe series would have been only their fourth assignment together.

"There is clearly more than meets the eye, and perhaps the Indian cricket board is exploring options," the source was quoted as saying, adding that the decisions regarding Zimbabwe and the Asian Games hinted at broader discussions taking place behind closed doors.

Despite the speculation, the BCCI has maintained an official silence regarding possible coaching exits.We reached out to BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, the coaches concerned and the IPL franchise reportedly involved, but no official response had been received at the time of publication.

Saikia, however, addressed India's recent performances and confirmed that a review meeting would be held after the completion of the England tour.
"The BCCI is currently observing the performance of the Indian T20 team, which has not been up to the mark in the ongoing series against England. However, this is not something abnormal and can happen in international cricket. We consider it a temporary poor phase," Saikia said.

He further clarified that once the ODI series concludes on July 19, the board will hold a review meeting with the team's core members to analyse what went wrong in England and discuss areas that require improvement. Saikia also emphasised that the meeting would be strictly focused on the team's performances and course correction, stating that "nothing else will be discussed."

However, the report indicates that discussions regarding the coaching setup are already underway independently of the scheduled review. If the concerned coaches proceed with their plans, the Indian team's support staff could undergo a significant transformation as early as the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, although the timeline may change if the BCCI and Gambhir manage to convince them to stay.

For now, there is no indication that Gautam Gambhir's own position as head coach is under threat. Instead, the focus appears to be on restructuring the support staff around him. With crucial international assignments and ICC tournaments on the horizon, the coming weeks could prove decisive in shaping the future direction of Indian cricket. Whether the reported coaching reset becomes a reality or not, the BCCI's next steps will be closely watched by players, fans and the cricketing fraternity alike.