Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Former England spinner Monty Panesar feels that India’s all-format coach formula will not work with Gautam Gambhir after losing six test matches as head coach. The Indian cricket team’s performance has been shaky ever since Gambhir replaced Rahul Dravid in July 2024.
They suffered their first ODI series defeat against Sri Lanka since 1997 and were surprisingly whitewashed 3-0 at home in a Test series in New Zealand. Adding to their problems, India lost the Test series 3–1 to Australia, losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after ten years.
However, the Men in Blue are unbeaten in T20I cricket, winning all six matches under new coach Gambhir, but are yet to win an ODI match, and now all eyes are on the upcoming three-match ODI series against India home ahead. of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Monty Panesar calls for Gautam Gambhir’s sacking as India’s Test coach
Although Gambhir enjoyed success as a T20 mentor with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and defending IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). As captain, the former Indian batsman won two IPL titles and also played a crucial role in India’s World Cup T20 and ODI triumphs in 2007 and 2011 respectively.
But his Test numbers are not great in Australia and England, and now India’s Test performance has highlighted his weakness in red-ball cricket, leading many to suggest that the BCCI have separate coaches for white ball and Test. teams.
Well, Monty Panesar supported the idea of having separate coaches for the Indian cricket team for white ball and red ball cricket. He feels that coaching all three teams is too much for Gautam Gambhir, and he might face up the pecking order with the senior players as he used to play with them.
Indian players disrespect Gautam Gambhir?
Monty Panesar was quoted by the Times of India as saying: “I think so. I think he is a good choice. I think maybe the workload is too much for Gambhir… He has just become a coach. Sometimes it can be difficult for to some of the senior players who really think, ‘Well, I was his teammate a few years ago, now he’s telling us how to play cricket. It can be difficult, that transition, and his record (as a batsman ) is not great a Australia or England”.
In Australia, Gambhir managed just 181 runs in four Tests at an average of 22.62, while in England he has just 127 runs in five outings at an average of 12.70. These numbers do not suit a coach from the Test side, and BCCI should now hand over the role of Test coach to VVS Laxman, Panesar said.
India need a legend like VVS Laxman for the Test team – Monty Panesar
The former England spinner said that Gambhir’s Test numbers are not that good and this poses a challenge for him to prevail over the Indian dressing room. He mentioned that legends like VVS Laxman, with proven success in all conditions, naturally command respect and authority.
Panesar further explained: “I think the selectors will think:” Is Gambhir taking it seriously as a coach or should we get him to focus only on ODIs and T20Is and maybe bring in someone like VVS Laxman for example (as Test coach). )? Or bring him in as a batting coach to help Gambhir. He is similar to Rahul Dravid. It has been successful in all conditions. I think you need some kind of Indian legend, who has done really well in all conditions, to come in as a coach, because then you naturally ask for that respect.”
He concluded: “If Laxman tells you, ‘You’re not going to play the ball up when it’s swinging,’ you listen, don’t you? But with Gambhir, I don’t know if they really take him seriously, or they just say, ‘Okay, yeah, l ‘we’ll listen, but we’re going to play our natural game.’ ”
