Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that Gautam Gambhir‘s future as head coach could hinge on the team’s performance in the Test series against England later this year. He suggested that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 might come too soon to fairly evaluate Gambhir’s performance as a coach.
Under Gambhir’s leadership, India have performed impressively in T20Is. However, their struggles in ODIs and Tests have been evident, with the team failing to qualify for the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final following a 1-3 loss in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Aakash Chopra, the former player was asked whether Gambhir’s position as head coach might be in jeopardy if India underperform in the Champions Trophy.
“I believe Gautam Gambhir deserves at least one more England tour. The BCCI is unlikely to make any decisions about his role before that. By then, it will have been a year since he took charge. The transition period should ideally be evaluated within this one-year timeframe. After the England tour, a proper assessment can be done, focusing on how he managed the team, developed players, and improved performance,” he said (5:00).
“Evaluating someone’s performance requires at least a year. The England tour could become a key parameter to gauge Gambhir’s impact as a coach. It’s fair to assess his contributions, just as we do with players. Batters and bowlers are reviewed, so coaches should be as well,” Chopra added.
“This Champions Trophy stands apart—it’s truly special and unique. Similarly, the 2013 Champions Trophy wasn’t ordinary either; it marked the beginning of a new era. It was entirely MS Dhoni’s team, reflecting his strategies. He promoted Rohit Sharma to the opening role just before the tournament, and it became a defining move. Dhoni even bowled himself at times and emphasized fielding heavily. That was the start of Shikhar Dhawan’s rise as ‘Mr. ICC.’ This time, though, we’re in the later stages of a transition, with certain players under close scrutiny. Their performances, even in Ranji Trophy matches, are being closely monitored,” Chopra remarked.
Chopra expressed optimism that Rohit Sharma and the Indian team will deliver strong results in the Champions Trophy. However, he hinted that significant changes could occur in Indian cricket if the outcome doesn’t favor the team.
