Gautam Gambhir to accompany India 'A' on England tour: Report
What's the story
Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir will likely accompany the India 'A' side on their England tour this year. The tour will precede the senior team's five-Test series starting on June 20. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) doesn't have a designated coach for its developmental sides at the moment. It's unclear if Gambhir will travel just as an "observer" or if VVS Laxman, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) head, will take up the role.
Strategy
Gambhir's vision for future
It is understood that Gambhir has been working on a plan across formats for the next two years, leading to the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup. The plan will also include the ICC World Test Championship and 2026 T20 World Cup. A BCCI source revealed, "Gambhir has been in discussions with the BCCI since he returned from Australia. He has expressed his desire to travel with the India 'A' team to get a clearer view of the reserve pool."
Revitalization
Strategy to revitalize India's Test cricket
Since he took over as head coach, India's Test cricket standing has plummeted. The team was defeated 0-3 at home by New Zealand and lost 1-3 in Australia. Gambhir, along with chief selector Ajit Agarkar and Laxman, is looking for ways to revive India's player pool for Test cricket. A major strategy identified is the need for more India 'A' tours, which have been rare since Rahul Dravid left the NCA.
Selection
Approach to player selection and preparation
Under Gambhir's leadership, there have been impulsive selection decisions based on the horses-for-courses theory. The Test squad has looked unsettled, with an underutilized resource pool. Senior players could be urged to play for India A in England, giving Gambhir a chance to check their form and find potential backups. With Rohit Sharma's place in the Test XI still under scrutiny, the focus is on finding a reliable reserve opener and robust middle-order batter.
Strategy
Strategy for T20 and ODI World Cups
Gambhir has suggested the idea of having a specialized T20I team, mostly picked on the basis of form. He likes to keep the ODI and T20I formats separate. With India scheduled to play about 24 ODIs before the next World Cup, Gambhir wants to build the core of the ODI side as soon as possible. The Indian Premier League (IPL) will play a major role here as Gambhir strongly favors recent form-based selections.