Gautam Gambhir gets timely information of Anil Kumble-like revolt against him in Team India

The India national cricket team is currently going through a transition period, especially after the retirements of cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Head Coach Gautam Gambhir has been the center of changes ever since he arrived in the Indian team.

Former cricketer Atul Wassan stated that the seamless transitions were seen under coaches Gary Kirsten and John Wright, unlike the 2017 “Kumble episode.”

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ended their Test careers within five days. The duo announced their decisions via social media. It is worth noting that Gautam Gambhir has been under fire for some of the poor outings since his arrival.

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India lost the ODI series against Sri Lanka under Gautam Gambhir's coaching and also were thrashed in Australia. Gautam Gambhir's changes were called out openly.

Team India will next take on England in a highly anticipated five-match series, which marks the beginning of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.

Big Players Won’t Let It Happen - Atul Wassan Warns Gautam Gambhir

Speaking on the OTTPlay App, Atul Wassan said that transitions in the Indian cricket team occur under a new coach after a period of poor performance. He noted that rebuilding phases can be difficult because star players may resist changes.

"It happens because a new coach is usually appointed when the team loses something. Nobody wants to fix something that is not broken. So when that new phase arrives and you think you want to rebuild...but then there is a lack of patience," Wassan said.

"You need to keep in mind that there are big players who might think that their rules are getting disrupted. They are very powerful in the Indian team. You know what happened. They won't let it happen."

"So you can do it like Gary Kirsten and John Wright, who made that transition smoothly. 'Saam Daam Dand Bhed (persuasion, reward, punishment, and divide)' you should know it all if you want to survive in Indian cricket," he added.

You Have to Give Gautam Gambhir a Free Hand - Atul Wassan

Atul Wassan believes that Gautam Gambhir should be given full authority to lead the team after the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket.

"Whichever coach comes, comes with the dogma. You have to give him a free hand. If you're a very strong personality, you're given a free hand. And if you don't deliver, you have to be out. It's not as if you make all your choices, but in the end, you cannot guarantee results. There has to be some balance, some kind of mentorship has to be there from the board," Wassan said.

The upcoming five-match Test series will start on June 20. The last Test series between India and England in the UK ended in a 2-2 draw. India is expected to be the underdog. The tour will kick off with the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, and the BCCI is set to announce the new captain and the full squad soon.

What Happened Between Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli in 2017?

Anil Kumble resigned as India’s head coach shortly after the team lost the Champions Trophy final to Pakistan in 2017. His departure was reportedly due to conflicts with then-captain Virat Kohli.

Kumble had a strong coaching record, but tensions grew between him and Kohli. The former leg spinner described the situation as "untenable." He revealed that the BCCI had informed him the captain had concerns about his coaching style and continuation.

According to ESPNCricinfo, Kohli met with BCCI officials before the England tour and mentioned that some players felt uncomfortable with Kumble’s “intimidating” approach to man management.

Also read: Sanjay Manjrekar takes a sly dig at Virat Kohli yet again after his Test Retirement