Uncertainty Surrounds Gambhir’s Return to England

Gautam Gambhir, the head coach for India, urgently returned to New Delhi before the team’s private four-day practice match in Beckenham, according to international reports on Friday.

Sources indicate Gambhir went back to care for his mother, who recently experienced a heart attack.

His mother is currently under medical care at a hospital in the capital. Sources close to Gambhir suggest that doctors are encouraged by her progress.

While it is possible Gambhir could rejoin the Indian team before their initial Test match against England, which begins on June 20, the exact date of his return is still unconfirmed.

It’s unclear who will lead the team in Gambhir’s absence. Reports suggest assistant coaches Sitanshu Kotak and Ryan ten Doeschate, along with bowling coach Morne Morkel, might oversee the squad.

Gambhir’s absence occurs at a vital moment, as the team was scheduled to discuss the batting lineup before the first Test. The team is presently participating in a four-day practice match between the senior national side and the India A team, held privately until June 16.

The forthcoming five-match series against England, scheduled from June 20 to August 4, is significant for the former ICC World Test Championship (WTC) finalists, marking the commencement of Shubman Gill’s captaincy.

India squad for England Tests:

Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akashdeep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.