Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Snehashish Ganguly has expressed his support for India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, emphasizing the need for patience as the team navigates a difficult phase. Despite Gambhir’s reputation as a successful leader—most notably steering the Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024—his tenure as India’s head coach has faced significant challenges, particularly in the ODI and Test formats.
India’s recent performances have been underwhelming. A series of crushing defeats, including a 3-0 ODI loss to Sri Lanka (their first series defeat against Sri Lanka in 27 years), a home Test whitewash by New Zealand (India’s first in 24 years), and a Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss to Australia (their first in a decade), have placed Gambhir and the senior players under intense scrutiny. These setbacks have also fueled rumors of unrest within the Indian dressing room.
Despite the mounting pressure, Ganguly believes Gambhir’s track record warrants patience. “I feel happy because of his approach. As a coach, he got success for KKR after 12 years. We should give him some time. It has been some months since he has been handling the team after Rahul Dravid,” Ganguly said in an interview with ANI.
The focus now shifts to India’s upcoming white-ball series against England. This series, beginning with a five-match T20I contest at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens, serves as critical preparation for the Champions Trophy 2025. The team will also play a three-match ODI series, with senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli expected to return to action as India aims to regain its form and rebuild momentum ahead of major tournaments.
