Former Indian Cricketer Calls for Gambhir's Removal If T20 World Cup Defense Fails
As India prepares to host and defend the T20 World Cup next month, former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has issued a stark warning to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Tiwary believes that if head coach Gautam Gambhir fails to guide the Indian team to victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup, the BCCI should take a "big and difficult" decision to sack him.
Gambhir's First World Cup as Head Coach
The upcoming T20 World Cup marks a significant milestone for Gautam Gambhir, as it will be his first World Cup overseeing the Indian team since taking over as head coach in all formats. Gambhir assumed the role following the departure of Rahul Dravid, whose tenure concluded after the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
Under Gambhir's leadership, the Indian T20 team has shown a mixed performance record. In 2025, the team secured 16 T20I victories with only three losses, and this year, India has already won the first three matches in the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand. However, recent setbacks include a loss in the ODI series against New Zealand and a 0-2 defeat in the two-test match series against South Africa.
Tiwary's Strong Stance on Gambhir's Future
In an interview with InsideSport, Manoj Tiwary expressed his concerns about Gambhir's ability to deliver results in high-stakes tournaments. "If Gautam Gambhir fails to win the T20 World Cup 2026, then the BCCI should take a big and difficult decision," Tiwary stated. He highlighted that while the BCCI secretary has indicated plans to continue with Gambhir until his contract expires, a failure in the World Cup should prompt immediate action.
"The BCCI secretary has said that we will pursue with Gambhir till his contract expires. But if the T20 World Cup 2026 doesn't give a result to Gambhir, I think the BCCI will take a big call and will remove him," Tiwary added, emphasizing the need for accountability in Indian cricket.
VVS Laxman Suggested as Potential Replacement
Tiwary also proposed a successor for Gambhir, suggesting that former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman could be an ideal candidate. He praised Laxman's coaching experience and temperament, noting that Laxman has consistently maintained a good winning percentage as a head coach.
"It has to be a process-driven thing. When Rahul Dravid was India's coach and if he used to miss any series, the natural choice was VVS Laxman. Laxman, being the head coach, has always had a good winning percentage. In my opinion, the BCCI should convince him because he is a level-headed guy and he is a very good human being as well. He has the coaching experience as well," Tiwary explained.
Context of Recent Team Performance and Leadership Changes
The call for Gambhir's potential removal comes amid broader discussions about the Indian team's recent performances and leadership decisions. Earlier this month, India suffered a rare home ODI series loss to New Zealand, marking the first such defeat in over three decades. Tiwary had previously criticized the BCCI's decision to replace Rohit Sharma as ODI captain with Shubman Gill, arguing that Sharma's leadership could have yielded better results.
"What was the need to remove Rohit Sharma from the captaincy? I'm pretty sure that if Rohit were leading even today in the ODIs, it would have been a different result (New Zealand series) altogether. Because when he won the Champions Trophy, I think the team was going forward in the right direction," Tiwary remarked in an earlier interview with InsideSport.
Despite these challenges, Gambhir's tenure has also seen successes, including India's victories in the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup last year. As the T20 World Cup approaches, all eyes will be on Gambhir and the Indian team to see if they can defend their title and secure his position as head coach.
