“Gautam Gambhir was a compromise and was not the BCCI’s first choice as India’s head coach. So…’

In early 2024, when Rahul Dravid confirmed that he would not extend his contract with the BCCI as head coach of the Indian team, Gautam Gambhir emerged as the front-runner to replace the legend. And on the back of an IPL title as the coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, Gambhir seemed like the right successor to take up the new role. However, with the former India opener on the brink of losing his job in the Indian team, reports have revealed that he was just a “compromise”.

Rumors about Gambhir as Dravid’s replacement mainly started in the second half of IPL 2024. Even though Gambhir had no coaching experience, there were few other candidates to challenge the former India World Cup winner. In his only stint in the IPL after his retirement, Gambhir also played a coaching role for Lucknow Super Giants.

However, Gambhir has had a tough time as head coach since officially taking over in July. This includes a loss in the ODI series in Sri Lanka and an unprecedented 3-0 defeat in the Test series against New Zealand at home. He is currently on the brink of losing his second straight Test series as India trail 1-2 against Australia. Rohit Sharma’s side will concede the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in over a decade unless they draw in the final Test in Sydney later this week.

‘Gambir was never BCCI’s first choice’

Gambhir has running out of time to prove his worth before the Champions Trophy in February, but a PTI report claimed that the former India left-handed batsman was never the BCCI’s first choice to replace Dravid. Before the Indian legend turned down the offer, he was the president of the National Cricket Academy VVS Laxman. In fact, Gambhir was chosen after foreign celebrities rejected the role.

“He was never BCCI’s first choice (VVS Laxman) and some of the big names overseas didn’t want to coach all three formats, so he was a compromise. Obviously, There were other obsessions as well,” the senior said. A BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity.

Gambhir will only hope that India pulls off a miracle at the SCG in the fifth Test match of the Border-Gavaskar series, which may give him hope of remaining in the Indian team till the end of his contract in 2027.