Managing the Indian national cricket team as a head coach is possibly one of the toughest jobs in the sports industry as the coach needs to deal with an entire dressing room filled with numerous stars and superstars. More than a decade has passed and Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are still leading the superstar category across the world.

Under the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken multiple bold steps and had to take some of them due to sudden decisions by some of the senior cricketers in the team.

Gautam Gambhir took charge when the team was at a critical juncture.

When India won the 2024 T20 World Cup with Rahul Dravid as head coach, Virat and Rohit were the main cogs in the team. Former coach Ravi Shastri led the team when Virat and Rohit were at their peak.

Gautam Gambhir’s coaching method attracted a lot of criticism as the team produced below-par results in red-ball cricket. Furthermore, the sudden retirements of the two superstars from T20Is and Tests led to multiple speculations surrounding Gambhir. There is no denying that India’s Test performance in the recent past was not as good as it could be.

Gambhir wants to dissolve team’s superstar culture

Gautam Gambhir’s outspoken personality never hesitated to address difficult questions with a direct comment. Even after winning the 2026 T20 World Cup, he kept his approach the same as before. In multiple interviews, the current team leader expressed his opinion against the culture of superstars in the locker room.

“That is a simple difference, and that difference will always remain. The media wants to create superstars, but my job as a head coach is to create a super team. And that is the only way I see my profession because my job is to be absolutely fair, equitable, and treat everyone exactly the same. After all, those 15 people in that dressing room are absolutely the same as me,” he said during an interview with ANI, after winning the 2026 World T20.

Munaf Patel’s strong warning to the BCCI

Former Indian cricketer Munaf Patel said that if the board decides to remove Gautam Gambhir from the helm, it will be a problematic step. Patel feels that at present, Gambhir is the right man to control the team.

“Just remember this, if a head coach like Gautam Gambhir is sacked, then managing the players will be very difficult. He is a genuine person; he tells the truth as it is, and a lot of people don’t like that. Everyone knows that if things go wrong, he dares to leave that player,” Munaf Patel told The Times of India.

“Management is the most important thing. And it’s not easy. Try saying no to someone like Virat Kohli. Try saying no to Rohit Sharma. Tell me, how many people is Gautam Gambhir making enemies just to coach the country?” Munaf added.

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