After India’s disappointing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, speculation surrounding the Indian cricket team has persisted. Allegations of discipline issues, “leaks” from the dressing room, and calls for a complete overhaul have dominated discussions since the start of the year.
According to NDTV, reports have even suggested that head coach Gautam Gambhir’s performance will be reviewed following the Champions Trophy 2025, set to begin next month. Amid this, a suggestion emerged to consider appointing two separate coaches for the Indian team.
“I think so. I think that’s a good option,” said Monty Panesar, who has 167 Test wickets and 24 ODI wickets for England, in an interview with Times of India.
“I think maybe the workload is too much for Gambhir…He’s just transitioned into a coach. Sometimes it can be difficult for some of the senior players who actually will be thinking, ‘Well, I was his teammate a few years ago, now he’s telling us how to play cricket.’ It can be difficult, that transition, and also his record (as a batter) isn’t great in Australia or in England,” Panesar added.
However, former BCCI chief selector Sunil Joshi dismissed the idea of having two coaches.
“I personally feel there shouldn’t be any knee-jerk reactions after the BGT (result). I mean we have lost the BGT, accept it…They (Australia) played better cricket. Let’s accept it,” Joshi told Times of India.
He also emphasized that India should avoid adopting strategies from other countries, advocating instead for approaches that align with India’s unique needs. “We should not be going the western way. We should be going our own way, what suits us, because the majority of our players are going to be there for all three formats. Very few exceptions are there who are going to feature (only) in Tests or T20s and ODIs. So it doesn’t make any difference.”
Joshi further cautioned against the complications that could arise from having two coaches. “When you have two coaches, there’ll be two different views on how to play cricket, although you might say they are all professionals and everything. But still, there is the 1% possibility of being judgmental,” he explained.
“Prior to a particular series, the white-ball coach will come, then the other coach (for Tests). Then they’ll start doing different sorts of training. There are completely different dynamics when you have multiple coaches for multiple teams. That’s my view on that,” Joshi concluded.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
