"So soon?" - Aakash Chopra on rumors of Gautam Gambhir being removed as India's head coach in Tests if they don't do well in BGT 2024-25
Aakash Chopra reckons the rumors about Gautam Gambhir being removed as India's head coach in Tests if they don't perform well in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 are baseless. He opined that replacing the recently appointed head coach in the longest format would be premature.
New Zealand handed India a 3-0 drubbing in a recent three-match Test series. Reports suggest that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had a lengthy meeting with Gambhir and Rohit Sharma after the harrowing loss. Rumors suggest separate coaches for red and white-ball cricket if the performances in the upcoming Test series against Australia are not good.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener discarded the rumors about Gambhir potentially being removed as the head coach in Tests after the Australia tour.
"It is being said that Gautam Gambhir was grilled for six hours. Not just him, the captain was also there with him. A lengthy discussion took place to understand where are things going wrong, why such pitches are being made, and why players are playing like this. There are also rumors that if things don't go well in the BGT, separate coaches will be seen in different formats. So soon?" he said (0:01).
"I am saying the rumor will be absolutely baseless. I see it as a rumor floated around with a slight malicious intent because he has just been appointed. It doesn't happen that the coach is fired or separate coaches are made for different formats if the players don't do well. I don't agree with that at all. It's a little too early. So I am discarding that," Chopra added.
India will face Australia in a five-Test series, with the first game starting in Perth on November 22. Rohit and company might need to win the series 4-0 to book a berth in the World Test Championship final.
"Questions being asked is not a new thing" - Aakash Chopra on the reported lengthy meeting between BCCI officials and Gautam Gambhir-Rohit Sharma
![India lost 0-2 in the away ODI series against Sri Lanka under Gautam Gambhir as head coach. [P/C: BCCI/X]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/32579-17312122023792-1920.jpg?w=500)
However, Aakash Chopra acknowledged that the Board of Control for Cricket in India would have had a lengthy discussion with Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma as it's regular practice.
"The meeting happened and it's been reported by PTI. It went long where the pitches, the team's strategy, and the future blueprint were discussed. It is not new. Gautam Gambhir's young coaching career is working in absolutes, either you win 3-0 or lose 0-3. However, questions being asked is not a new thing," he said.
The renowned commentator noted that the BCCI acceded to Gambhir's demands before his appointment.
"One thing definitely happened. The BCCI did whatever Gautam Gambhir asked for. He got the staff he wanted. He said he wanted (Virat) Kohli and Rohit (Sharma) to play in the ODI series against Sri Lanka and they asked them to play. Then he has been given the liberty to prepare the pitches he wants," Chopra observed.
Chopra added that accountability is expected as the whitewash by New Zealand was a huge setback.
"In fact, if reports are to be believed, whatever he said on the selection table has been agreed to. When so many things happen, accountability is obvious. The 0-3 defeat against New Zealand has hurt, and that is why this discussion," he said.
Chopra opined that the prominent discussion in the meeting might have been on the pitches used against Bangladesh and New Zealand. He pointed out that India, under Rahul Dravid as head coach, played most of the Tests against England on normal pitches. But the Men in Blue reverted to extreme bowler-friendly, whether it be seam or spin, surfaces against the Bangla Tigers and Kiwis.