Ever since Gautam Gambhir stepped into the Indian dressing room as head coach, whispers about his equation with the players had been floating around. But this Test and ODI series has pushed those murmurs into the open. From Virat Kohli’s pale expressions to awkward side-hugs, and Rohit Sharma clearly distancing himself at the airport lounge, the signs were hard to miss. A few other players, including Arshdeep Singh and Sanju Samson, also seem to be part of this silent-treatment circle.
The main reason, as my source suggests, is a growing communication gap and lack of clarity in roles. Many players feel the coach and selection committee are making decisions on their own without any real discussion with the team. The on-field choices have also left players confused.
For example, Washington Sundar was pushed down to No. 8 in the Guwahati Test even though he batted at No. 3 in Kolkata and performed better than most. In another match, India fielded seven left-handers without a clear strategy. These constant changes have frustrated players because they never feel settled in their batting positions.
Another issue troubling the squad is the lack of meaningful conversations about game plans. Several players feel the atmosphere has become directionless, and nobody really knows what the long-term approach is. My source also revealed that things worsened during the England tour, where captain Shubman Gill was reportedly being guided closely by Gambhir in almost every match. Important calls were being made straight from the dressing room, and Gill was simply executing instructions.
Meanwhile, the BCCI is fully aware of the growing discomfort and has quietly stepped in to calm things down. Pragyan Ojha, the selector from the East Zone, travelled with the team through the ODI series mainly to observe the mood in the camp. Senior BCCI officials, including the vice president, also met the players in Raipur after the second ODI. It wasn’t a formal agenda-driven meeting but more of a casual dinner-table conversation meant to ease tensions.
Even in the selection meeting for the SA vs India five-match T20I series, secretary Devajit Saikia reportedly raised concerns about communication gaps with Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. The board understands that the environment inside the dressing room needs fixing before things spiral further.
For now, the focus is on clearing misunderstandings and restoring trust. But one thing is clear: harmony inside the Indian cricket team is far from perfect, and the coming months will reveal whether these behind-the-scenes efforts can truly bring stability back.
