Gautam Gambhir hurried back to India from the United Kingdom. The head coach of the Indian Cricket Team, Gautam Gambhir, is now set to return to England just before the upcoming Test series. According to reports from the Times of India, he is expected to rejoin the squad on Tuesday, June 17th, as his mother’s health has been gradually improving.
Gautam Gambhir sudden return to India was prompted by a family emergency his mother suffered a heart attack and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a Delhi hospital. This led to speculation about when the head coach would be able to rejoin the team.
Fortunately, in a positive update, it is confirmed that Gambhir will be back with the team ahead of the first Test against England, scheduled to start on June 20th at Headingley in Leeds.
This news is a big boost for India, as Gautam Gambhir, who had traveled to England with the squad on June 5th, had been actively involved in practice sessions and working closely with the players to prepare them for the opening series of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27.
During Gautam Gambhir absence, the intra-squad match between India and India A was managed by assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, and bowling coach Morne Morkel. The game was called off after three days, with players enjoying valuable time on the field.
The England series will be important for Gautam Gambhir as a coach
The upcoming Test series against England will be a crucial milestone for Gautam Gambhir’s coaching career. So far, Gambhir has struggled to establish himself as a successful Test coach, with the team enduring a home whitewash by New Zealand and a 3-1 defeat in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
With the recent retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, India will field a relatively inexperienced side. Shubman Gill will captain the team, supported by deputy Rishabh Pant. Both will be eager to make history by securing India’s first Test series win in England since 2007.