T20 World Cup 2026 May Decide Gautam Gambhir’s Future as India Head Coach
Manoj Tiwary has linked Gautam Gambhir’s future as India coach to the 2026 T20 World Cup result.
Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has stirred debate by stating that the BCCI should sack head coach Gautam Gambhir if India fail to win the T20 World Cup 2026. Tiwary’s comments come amid growing scrutiny of Gambhir’s tenure following inconsistent performances across formats, particularly after India’s recent ODI series loss to New Zealand.
While India’s T20I performances under Gambhir have largely been positive, disappointing results in Test matches and ODIs have raised concerns among experts and fans. These mixed outcomes have also sparked discussions around a potential split coaching model, with different coaches handling different formats of the game.
In an interview with InsideSport, Tiwary acknowledged that the BCCI has publicly committed to backing Gambhir until the end of his contract. However, he stressed that failure to deliver results at the T20 World Cup, India’s priority global tournament, could force the board to take a “big and difficult decision” regarding Gambhir’s future.
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“If the T20 World Cup 2026 doesn’t give a result to Gambhir, I believe the BCCI will take a big call and remove him,” Tiwary said. He added that global tournaments often define coaching tenures, regardless of earlier assurances from cricket boards.
Tiwary also named VVS Laxman as a strong candidate to replace Gambhir if such a decision is taken. Currently serving as Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Laxman has previously coached the Indian team during Rahul Dravid’s absence and boasts an impressive win percentage.
Describing Laxman as level-headed and experienced, Tiwary said the BCCI should consider convincing him to take up the role if required. With the T20 World Cup 2026 looming large, Gambhir’s leadership is likely to remain under close watch, making the tournament a defining moment for his coaching career.
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