India's preparations for their World Test Championship (WTC) Cycle 2025-27 received a massive boost as head coach Gautam Gambhir joined the squad in Leeds on June 18. The southpaw had to rush to Delhi on June 11 to be with his ailing mother, who had been hospitalized due to a heart attack. As a result, the former India opening batter missed India's last warm-up fixture against India A in Beckenham.
Gambhir's mother's condition has improved significantly, and hence, the southpaw returned to join the India squad just two days ahead of the first Test in Headingley. In the head coach's absence, assistant coaches Sitanshu Kotak, Ryan ten Doeschate, and Morne Morkel played a key roles in helping finalize strategies. Additionally, the assistant coaches were also given support by India A coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar and VVS Laxman, who were in England as part of India A's coaching staff members.
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Gautam Gambhir under immense scrutiny as India set to begin a bold new era under Shubman Gill
For the unversed, Gambhir will be under the spotlight after his red-ball graphic took a beating after losing consecutive Test series against New Zealand and Australia. The loss to the former might have been a hard pill to swallow as it came at home, with a 3-0 whitewash. With the five-match Test series essential in the outcome of the WTC Points Table, Gambhir would be keen to start the England series on a winning note.
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"Gambhir clearly wants to build a young team that follows his methods. He's a tough taskmaster and disciplinarian. This is a tour where Gambhir can shape these players without the influence or resistance of senior stars. If India wins, it will largely seen as the beginning of a new era under Gambhir. If Gambhir leads this young Indian side to a series win in England, we will begin mentioning him alongside best coaches - Andy Flower, Ricky Ponting, and Stephen Fleming," Panesar told to Times of India.
