After the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket, reports suggest that new India head coach Gautam Gambhir is pushing for complete control over the team. According to a report by Dainik Jagran, Gambhir has already laid out a strict roadmap to reshape Indian cricket by ending the “superstar culture” and building a new, young core.
Gambhir’s Influence Grows Post Rohit-Kohli Exit
Traditionally, Indian cricket teams have been captain-driven, with coaches like Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid playing secondary roles. However, Gambhir appears to be changing that narrative. The report states that he played an active role in phasing out Rohit and Kohli from red-ball cricket alongside chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who informed the duo about the decision to move ahead with a younger squad.
“This is the first time a head coach has had such direct influence on the retirement of two senior players,” the report claimed.
Gambhir reportedly proposed a 10-point code of conduct, requiring players to participate in domestic tournaments and adhere to a stricter behavioral standard during national duties.
Shubman Gill Likely to Follow, Bumrah Could Have Pushed Back
With Shubman Gill likely to be named India’s next Test captain, the report suggests Gambhir may hold dominant influence within the team setup. Gill, though tipped as a future superstar, is still relatively new and unlikely to challenge Gambhir’s authority at this stage.
“Gill is still young and will likely follow Gambhir’s guidance closely,” the report said.
The only player who could have potentially counterbalanced Gambhir’s growing influence is Jasprit Bumrah. The ace pacer served as vice-captain under Rohit Sharma and even led India in three Tests. But due to his injury concerns and need for workload management, Bumrah was ruled out from full-time captaincy contention.
Gambhir Eyes Full Autonomy from BCCI
According to the report, Gambhir has requested the BCCI for complete autonomy to prevent repeat failures like the home series defeat to New Zealand and the debacle in Australia. With senior figures like Ashwin, Rohit, and Kohli out of the Test setup, Gambhir may now be in a position to dictate policy, selection, and strategy.
If granted full control, this would make Gambhir one of the most powerful head coaches in Indian cricket history — a clear shift from the past where captains dominated the team environment.
As India prepares for a new World Test Championship cycle, all eyes will be on how Gambhir reshapes the team, and whether his top-down approach yields success or resistance in the dressing room.
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