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Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes India’s ‘one coach fits all’ model after India head coach Gautam Gambhir lost six Test matches does not apply. The Indian cricket team has been inconsistent since Gambhir replaced Rahul Dravid in July 2024.
They lost an ODI series to Sri Lanka for the first time since 1997 and were shocked 3-0 at home by New Zealand in the Test series. To add insult to injury, India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a gap of ten years, losing 3-1 to Australia in the Test series.
However, the Men in Blue remain unbeaten in T20I cricket, winning all six games under new coach Gambhir but are yet to win an ODI and all eyes are now on the upcoming home match 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in three-match ODI series against India.
Monty Panesar demands sacking of India Test coach Gautam Gambhir
Although Gambhir has had success as a T20 mentor with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and defending IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The former India batsman won two IPL titles as captain and he also played a key role in India’s T20 and ODI World Cup victories in 2007 and 2011 respectively.
But his Test results in Australia and England were less than ideal and now India’s Test performance has highlighted his weaknesses in red-ball cricket, prompting many to suggest that the BCCI have different coaches for the white-ball and Test teams.
Monty Panesar has backed the idea of the Indian cricket team having different coaches for white-ball and red-ball cricket. He feels coaching these three teams is too much for Gautam Gambhir and he may face orders from senior players as he plays with them.
Do Indian players disrespect Gautam Gambhir?
“Times of India” quoted Monty Panesar as saying: “I think so. I think it is a good choice. I think maybe Gambhir’s workload is too much… He has just transformed into a coach. Sometimes, for some real players It can be difficult for senior players who think, ‘OK, I was his teammate a few years ago; now he’s teaching us how to play cricket. And his record (as a batsman) is not very good either in Australia or England. “
In Australia, Gambhir scored just 181 runs in four Tests at an average of 22.62, while in England he scored just 127 runs in five games at an average of 12.70. Panesar said that such figures are not suitable for Test side coaches and now BCCI should hand over the role of Test team coach to VVS Laxman.
India Test team needs legend like VVS Laxman: Monty Panesar
The former England spinner said Gambhir’s Test numbers were not good and it posed a challenge for him to gain respect in the Indian dressing room. He mentioned that a legend like VVS Laxman has achieved success in all conditions and has naturally earned respect and authority.
Panesar further explained, “I think the selectors will be thinking, ‘Does Gambhir take this seriously as a coach or should we let him focus only on ODIs and T20Is and maybe bring in someone like VVS Laxman (as Test coach ) )? Or have him help Gambhir as a batting coach who has been successful in all conditions. An Indian legend comes as a coach because then you will be respected.”
He concluded: “If Laxman told you, ‘When the ball swings, you don’t hit the upward pitch’, you would listen, right? But with Gambhir, I’m not sure if they really take him seriously, Or they just say, ‘Okay, yes, we’ll listen to him, but we’ll play our natural game.'”
