Coach aims to dismantle star culture and fast-track transition
Gautam Gambhir has entered the head-coach role with a clear objective: end the lingering star hierarchy in the Indian dressing room and introduce fresh talent for the next World Test Championship cycle. According to a senior BCCI official, Gambhir insisted that the Test side must feature new faces, finding immediate alignment with selection-panel chief Ajit Agarkar on phasing out senior players.
Historical power dynamics shift toward the coach
Indian cricket traditionally empowers its captains, with figures such as Sourav Ganguly, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma enjoying the final say in team matters. Previous coaches Greg Chappell, Anil Kumble and Bishan Singh Bedi struggled when they tried to assert similar authority, while John Wright, Gary Kirsten and Ravi Shastri thrived by deferring to their captains. Gambhir appears set to overturn this pattern and hold the decisive voice in major calls.
Shubman Gill likely to support the new regime
With Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin now retired from Tests, the leadership landscape has changed. Shubman Gill, a captain in waiting, is expected to work closely with Gambhir while he builds his own stature. Potential resistance from Jasprit Bumrah is tempered by the pacer’s fitness concerns, leaving Gambhir with relatively unchallenged authority, especially in T20 cricket.
Absolute control brings benefits and risks
The board has empowered Gambhir to prevent further setbacks like the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy and New Zealand home defeats. However, wielding unchecked power can backfire if results falter. As he crafts strategy and personnel changes, Gambhir must balance decisive action with long-term team harmony.
ODIs remain the last stronghold for senior stars
Gambhir enjoys a free hand in Tests and T20s, though the One-Day squad still features Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both eyeing the 2027 World Cup. Navigating that arena will require tact, yet the incoming coach’s broader mandate signals a new era in which the dressing-room hierarchy tilts firmly toward the man in the coach’s seat.
