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Gambhir's appointment as coach was along expected lines, even if he was not a unanimous choice among BCCI members and players, the two key stakeholders that a coach engages with. This isn't surprising given that Gambhir has always been a bit of a polarising figure through his blunt words and perceived reluctance to smile even when all was well with the world.
ET has reliably learnt that Gambhir had a wish list when it came to the coaching staff he wanted to complete his team and assist him. He had put forth the name of Abhishek Nayar as assistant coach, something that seems to have found favour with the board, even though no official decision has been made public.
In addition, Gambhir had also suggested the names of former Karnataka and India medium pacer R Vinay Kumar and L Balaji, of Tamil Nadu and India, for the position of bowling coach. Neither was approved in the first round of discussions. Ryan ten Doeschate, the all-rounder from the Netherlands, was put forth as a potential fielding coach. But this, too, was greeted with underwhelming enthusiasm by the powers that be. And then South Africa's Morne Morkel was rejected as a third option for bowling coach.
Three nationalities, three roles, all turned down, but with one glaringly obvious common thread: all these gentlemen have been part of the KKR coaching set-up at some point or another, some at the same time. This takes nothing away from them as individuals as more than one has a proven track record.
And, yet, BCCI's decision not to unquestioningly give Gambhir the support staff he wanted is a clear departure from convention.
When Greg Chappell was head coach, he brought with him Ian Frazer, a one-time business associate and a former first-class player whose career lasted all of 17 matches. Frazer had no coaching chops to speak of. Yet, he was approved to handle a sensitive role with the Indian team.
When Gary Kirsten landed the job, he wanted Paddy Upton to be a close aide through the journey. Upton also had limited playing experience in first-class cricket, but had been a part of the support staff for South Africa, as physical conditioning coach and then in a mental conditioning/sports psychologist role of sorts. BCCI readily agreed to give Kirsten the go-ahead to bring Upton over.
Ravi Shastri handpicked his bowling and batting coaches, as did Anil Kumble, then Shastri again, and finally Rahul Dravid got Paras Mhambrey (bowling) and Vikram Rathour (batting), as well as T Dilip as fielding coach, the latter having worked with Dravid at the National Cricket Academy. When this has been the norm all along, just why Gambhir is not getting his way - or not yet, anyway - is interesting.
One insider has suggested that this was one way in which BCCI was letting Gambhir know that although he was its choice for head coach, he was not going to be the one calling the shots. There was also a school of thought that suggested that this was only reflective of the change in the functioning of BCCI. Where previously decisions were taken largely by committee and consensus, it's an open secret that the power is now centred around few individuals.
If BCCI's reluctance to simply hand over the keys to the kingdom to Gambhir is irritating - and even problematic - there is another challenge that could be even more tricky. At only 42, having last played first-class cricket and IPL as recently as 2018, Gambhir has shared dressing rooms with several current Indian cricketers. And, more infamously, has rubbed some of them the wrong way as an opponent.
The players may have no official input in choosing who will coach them. But their power, openly and behind the scenes, when they act as a collective, is not to be underestimated.
In the TV series, The Wire, the brilliant yet problematic homicide detective Jimmy McNulty, falls foul of his superiors in the Baltimore Police Department. His chief then asks McNulty where he would not like to end up when transferred.
In all naivete, the detective says he can't stand rocking boards and diesel fumes. Naturally, he's assigned to a patrol boat on the marine unit. Perhaps Gambhir might consider this when he makes his next set of recommendations to BCCI.
The writer is former joint editor-in-chief, Wisden India
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