Senior India players reportedly unhappy with Gautam Gambhir's coaching style

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has reportedly come under increased scrutiny following a string of underwhelming results across formats, with a report claiming that some senior members of the Indian team are dissatisfied with his coaching methods.

According to a report by Cric Blogger, a few experienced players have privately expressed concerns about Gambhir's coaching style to former India cricketers and members of the BCCI Apex Council. However, the discussions are said to have remained informal, with no official complaint being lodged.

The report also claimed that Gambhir's perceived reluctance to take responsibility for defeats has not gone down well within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), adding further pressure on the former India opener.

"It is understood that some senior players have privately conveyed their reservations about Gambhir’s coaching style to former India cricketers as well as members of the BCCI Apex Council. While these discussions remain informal, they have added to the scrutiny surrounding the head coach."

Despite the reported concerns, the report stated that Gambhir continues to enjoy the BCCI's confidence and remains firmly in charge of the Indian team.

India eye turnaround in Sri Lanka Test series

India's next assignment is a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which forms part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. The visitors currently occupy fifth place in the WTC standings, having registered four wins, four defeats, and one draw so far.

Gambhir's tenure in Test cricket has been a mixed one. India endured a historic 0-3 home whitewash against New Zealand in 2024, marking their first-ever defeat by that margin in a home Test series comprising three or more matches. They also suffered a 0-2 home series loss to South Africa before managing to salvage a creditable 2-2 draw in England.

The challenge in Sri Lanka has become even tougher due to multiple injury setbacks. India will be without several key players, including Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana, all of whom have been ruled out of the series.

With pressure mounting after recent defeats in Ireland and England in the white-ball formats, the upcoming Test series could prove to be a significant one for Gambhir and the Indian team as they look to revive their World Test Championship campaign.