There is nothing going well between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the India National Cricket Team head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In a shocking development, Gautam Gambhir has been kept away from press conferences since December 6, 2025, following a series of explosive media appearances that reportedly pushed the BCCI’s patience to the limit.
BCCI and Gautam Gambhir’s relationship hits a breaking point
As reported by Revsportz journalist Rohit Juglan, the BCCI took the harsh decision after a buildup of controversies rather than a single incident. Over several weeks, Gautam Gambhir’s press conferences repeatedly created distress within the BCCI hierarchy, and his strong opinions slowly turned into a situation the board felt was going out of control.
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The Indian head coach made some not-so-good comments during the Australia and England tours, but the tension started frustrating the board after the first Test match against South Africa in Kolkata, where Gambhir openly spoke about the pitch and claimed it was exactly what the team wanted.
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These comments reportedly did not sit well with senior board officials, who felt such statements only added pressure and unnecessary debate at a sensitive time when the team had already been struggling. Soon after, more questions were raised in press conferences about team selection, especially Gautam Gambhir’s strong preference for all-rounders over specialist players in Test cricket.
There was visible confusion around the clarity of roles, and critics began pointing fingers. Former players and fans openly questioned the direction of the Test team, and Gambhir’s answers in the media only fuelled the discussion further. The situation worsened after India’s 0-2 home Test series loss to South Africa in November 2025.
Gambhir appeared defiant when questioned about responsibility and his future. He pointed at his success in white-ball cricket, including ICC Champions Trophy and Asia Cup wins last year, and many felt he was shifting focus instead of addressing Test failures directly.
Parth Jindal clash triggers BCCI action
But the breaking point reportedly came after Gambhir publicly reacted to comments made by Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal. Jindal had suggested that India needed a “separate red-ball coach” after the Test series defeat against South Africa last year.
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Gambhir strongly pushed back in a press conference, making it clear that “outsiders should not interfere in national team matters.” Although he did not name Jindal initially, the target was obvious, and the remarks didn’t go down well with the BCCI officials.
They reportedly felt that attacking a franchise owner in public crossed a line and was not part of a head coach’s role. By then, the situation had already piled up, with one controversy stacked over another. The board’s patience was tested repeatedly, and finally, a clear message was delivered after the December 6 press conference: “No more public appearances for now.”
Gambhir’s tenure since taking over as head coach in July 2024 has been intense, outspoken, and controversial. Given that the BCCI made sure there should be no individual holds on unchecked power within the system and tightened control over messaging, that’s why Gambhir has been kept away from the media.
