New Delhi: The Indian cricket team is likely to undergo a coaching reshuffle with at least one key support staff member set to leave.It’s unclear whether the potential exit is simply a result of the coaching staff becoming increasingly dissatisfied with continuing in their current roles, moving on to a new coaching position, or a combination of the two.The coaching staff, led by Gautam Gambhir, will take charge in July 2024, starting with the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka.For the record, bowling coach Morne Morkel Later, he joined the coaching staff ahead of the Bangladesh Test series, while the rest of the support staff began their tenure with Gambhir.It is understood that the support staff has signed a 2+1 contract with BCCI. While the cricket board and coaches have the option to extend the tenure by one year after the initial two years, it is understood that at least one coach has been in discussions with an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise with global reach and is likely to join their ranks.The possibility of another support staff member also leaving in the near future cannot be ruled out at this stage.times of india.com contacted the coaches and IPL teams concerned for comment on the strong complaints from the Indian cricket fraternity. The story will be updated as soon as they reply.This possible move is not due to the team’s poor performances in Ireland and England, but rather because it has been brewing for the past few months. It is reported that since the two consecutive home defeats against South Africa, the rift in the locker room has further deepened, and it is not the happiest place at the moment. Differences between the selectors and coaching staff further complicate matters.It is further learned that Sairaj Bahutale’s inclusion in the coaching staff as spin bowling coach is not a stop-gap measure. Earlier, Bahutale served as the interim bowling coach for the 2024 tour of Sri Lanka when Morkel was unable to join the team due to a family emergency.Although not confirmed, the potential exit of the support staff may have prompted the Indian Cricket Board to field a different set of coaches for the abbreviated Zimbabwe series. A source questioned the move as the Gambhir-led support staff had a long break during the IPL and the Zimbabwe series was only their fourth assignment and a very brief one at that.“I don’t quite understand the need to send VVS Laxman to Zimbabwe. I also don’t understand the plan to send him to the Asian Games. There is clearly more to the matter than meets the eye and perhaps the Indian Cricket Board is exploring options,” the source said.BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia issued a statement on Friday stressing that the board would review the team’s recent performance but insisted that “other matters will not be discussed”.“The BCCI is currently observing the performance of the Indian T20 team, which was not up to standard in the series against England. However, this is nothing unusual and can happen in international cricket too. We consider this a temporary phase of poverty. After the ODI series ends on July 19 and the team returns, we will hold a review meeting with the core members of the team to discuss what went wrong with the England team. Now that there is an ODI series, we hope the team can get back into good shape. ““The review meeting will critically review the team’s performance and how to correct shortcomings. Nothing else will be discussed,” Saikia said.The next few weeks could be very interesting for Indian cricket as the schedule could look completely new as early as the Test series against Sri Lanka if the coaches involved don’t change their minds. Times may change, but it may take considerable confidence from the Indian Cricket Board and head coach Gambhir to retain one or more notable names in the squad.Gambhir takes charge of the 2024 away series against Sri Lanka and has handpicked his support staff, which includes Ryan Ten DuchardMoeen Morkel and Abhishek Nayyar. T. Dilip retained the position of fielding coach, while Sitanshu Kotak was later appointed as batting coach and Nayyar was relieved of his duties after India won the 2025 Champions Trophy.
