'Could be shorter tenure than Greg Chappell's': Gautam Gambhir brutally mocked ahead of BGT 2024-25

Former cricketers Simon Doull and Nasser Hussain brutally mocked Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). Simon Doull predicted that Gautam Gambhir's tenure could be shorter than Greg Chappell's, who served as head coach between May 2005 and early 2007.

India and Australia will play the five-match Test series, with the first match scheduled to be played in Perth from Friday, November 22. India had success on their previous two Test tours of Australia, winning both series 2-1. However, India recently suffered a humiliating 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand.

Gautam Gambhir and Ricky Ponting Involved in Verbal Clash

Apart from the New Zealand loss, the Men in Blue suffered a 0-2 loss in the ODI series in Sri Lanka. However, the Indian team also achieved positive results, including a 3-0 T20I series win over Sri Lanka and a 2-0 Test series victory over Bangladesh. The BGT 2024-25 will be crucial for him as head coach.

Gautam Gambhir recently had a verbal clash with Ricky Ponting, who criticized Virat Kohli. Ponting had raised concerns about Kohli's performance over the past five years. In response, Gambhir hit back at the former Australia batter during a pre-departure press conference, asking him to focus on Australian cricket.

Could Be A Shorter Tenure Than Greg Chappell's - Simon Doull

Speaking on Sky Sports, former England captain Mike Atherton asked Simon Doull about the recent Gautam Gambhir-Ricky Ponting feud. Doull said that Gambhir could be sacked if India suffers a heavy defeat in the BGT 2024-25 series. Doull also said that Gambhir's nature with the media could harm his future.

“It could be a shorter tenure than Greg Chappell's tenure in charge of India. We have all either play alongside him or sat with him, we know he can be that gruff type of character. Is it what India need at this moment? Well, they certainly feel they do," Doull said.

He has the history and the backing to be able to sit down with those players and talk to them about how to play the game and how Test cricket works.

"But it's a tough ask, and its a huge series coming up. He's never going to be friendly with the media, but if he embraced it a little more, he could end up having a bit of a cult following. But not sure he's going down that road. And if he doesn't get the results in Australia, or its a 4-1 or 5-0, I don't know if his job continues,” he added.

Gautam Gambhir Is Angry On The Outside - Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain, also part of the panel, highlighted the contrast in leadership styles between Gambhir and Rahul Dravid. Nasser also pointed out that Gambhir’s response to Ponting’s comments was an "odd dig".

“It's a complete flip because they went from Dravid, who was more affable on the outside, but tough as nails inwardly, while Gambhir is angry on the outside and quite calm in the dressing room. But it was an odd dig at Ricky, who was only asked to comment on Virat, and now has been told to speak only on Australian players. That will be a tough ask as a pundit in an India-Australia series,” Nasser said.

Also read: "Hasn’t got runs": Sunil Gavaskar warns Australia of ‘very, very hungry’ Virat Kohli ahead of BGT