Former India middle-order batter Manoj Tiwary has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take a hard call on Gautam Gambhir’s future as head coach if India fail to defend their title at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
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India, the world No. 1 T20I side, will enter the tournament as favourites, buoyed by their current form and the advantage of playing at home. Gambhir, who took over as head coach in July 2024, has overseen a strong run in T20Is. However, India’s struggles in Test cricket and recent ODI setbacks have intensified scrutiny over his tenure.
Speaking to InsideSport, Tiwary said the T20 World Cup could prove decisive for Gambhir’s future. “I think if India fail to win the T20 World Cup, then BCCI will have to take a big decision,” Tiwary said.
He acknowledged that such a move would be difficult, given that Gambhir’s contract runs until 2027. “The BCCI secretary has already said that Gambhir will fulfil his contract. But if India doesn’t win the T20 World Cup, then the board will have to take a big call and remove him,” he added.
When asked about a potential successor, Tiwary named former India batter VVS Laxman as an ideal replacement. He pointed out that Laxman had previously stepped in as head coach during Rahul Dravid’s tenure and delivered strong results.
“It has to be a process-driven decision. Whenever Rahul Dravid missed a series, VVS Laxman was the natural choice. He has always had a good winning percentage as head coach,” Tiwary said. “In my opinion, the BCCI should convince him. He is level-headed, has the right experience, and is a very good human being.”
