What if Gautam Gambhir had taken charge as head coach of the England cricket team?

On July 9, 2024, Gautam Gambhir, a former Indian cricket player, was appointed head coach of India for all formats. Another Indian cricket legend, Rahul Dravid, passed the torch on to him. Gambhir’s coaching career had gotten off to a rather uneventful start. When India lost to Australia (4-1 away from home) and New Zealand (0-3 at home), things became worse.

But his coaching career took a new turn after a triumphant Champions Trophy campaign and a landslide victory over England in the white-ball series. Here is a hypothetical scenario involving the several factors that would be involved if the steely-eyed Gautam Gambhir were given the chance to lead England as head coach.

What if Gautam Gambhir was appointed England’s head coach?

Following his retirement from professional cricket, Gambhir transitioned into politics and commentary. Unlike many other former cricket players in the coaching field, he does not have a particularly impressive resume. His time with the Kolkata Knight Riders, his previous team, in the 2024 Indian Premier League, however, was noteworthy.

His ability to impart discipline and mental toughness as a mentor could have been perfect for the English cricket squad, as the sport has always tended towards aggression. Ideally, England cricket would have enjoyed the substance that Gambhir’s driven nature would have offered.

As was already said, England has adopted an assertive style of play in cricket. Being ahead of the game isn’t always bad, but it can lead to issues like the ones that arose during England’s early 2024 tour of India. In certain cases, England lost the edge they had gradually accumulated due to carelessness.

It’s possible that Gautam Gambhir appointment as head coach will instill the sensible aggression that England lacked during Brendon McCullum’s Bazball period. One could anticipate that Gautam Gambhir would inculcate virtues such as honing situational awareness and fusing common sense with restrained intent.

Gautam Gambhir will be adamant about holding his players accountable, much as in his playing days. Regardless of the format in question, English cricket has a terrible history of playing the game with a one-dimensional mindset. A few hard-hitting batsmen who typically waste wickets in an attempt to score runs rapidly would be counselled right away to change their tactics for the benefit of the team.

From team meetings to one-on-one discussions with players, they would receive immediate clarification. There would be some equilibrium between the players’ expectations and those of the coaching staff. Additionally, the selection committee would be more likely to choose the players Gambhir would prefer, raising the bar for English cricket as a whole.