Another debacle in the Indian camp rears its head: BCCI investigates Gambhir-Morkel dispute

There is no single issue but plenty of them for BCCI to resolve after India concluded a horrid Test season. The team, playing under the coaching of Gautam Gambhir, buried long-standing records in the red-ball format. The phase following India's 1-3 defeat in the Border Gavaskar Trophy down under has been filled with scrutiny. Beyond the gaming aspects, a number of reports suggested friction in the squad. From head coach Gautam Gambhir said to be at loggerheads with skipper Rohit Sharma to a certain "Mr. Fix It" plotting within the proceedings, all sorts of happenings were reported. Now, an update following the BCCI review meeting has reported another debacle, this time between Gautam Gambhir and the bowling coach, Morne Morkel.

BCCI to look into the Gautam Gambhir, Morne Morkel friction

As India continues to address its Test team's performance struggles, a report has shed light on tensions between head coach Gautam Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel during the recent Australian tour. According to the report, the BCCI is investigating an incident involving Gambhir and Morkel that may require resolution to maintain harmony within the coaching staff. The issue reportedly arose when Morkel arrived late for a training session due to a personal meeting. Gautam Gambhir, known for his strict stance on discipline, reprimanded Morkel on the spot, leading to concerns about the dynamic among the coaching team. The BCCI is said to be closely monitoring the situation to ensure effective collaboration moving forward.

“Gambhir is very strict about discipline. He reprimanded Morkel immediately at the ground. The board has been told that Morkel was a bit reserved during the rest of the tour. It’s up to these two to sort it out for the team to function smoothly," the report said.

Beyond this incident, the board is also evaluating the overall performance of the support staff, gathering feedback from senior players about their contributions to the team’s success. Among those under scrutiny is assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, who looks after the batting department of the team. Scrutiny stacked after Virat Kohli’s repeated struggles with edging deliveries in recent Tests. Similar doubts have been raised about assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, with his limited international experience and ability to impact player development coming under the spotlight. In response to these challenges, the BCCI is reportedly considering limiting the contracts of support staff to a two or three-year tenure, aiming to maintain accountability and improve results.

“Batting coach Abhishek Nayar is particularly under the scanner. Gambhir himself has been an accomplished batter. The board has asked the players if Nayar is bringing anything new to the table. The board feels loyalty issues creep in after the coaches spend a lot of time with the team. But it has benefited from a side-arm specialist who offers throwdowns.”