Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir had to leave England and return to India after a family emergency. According to a PTI report, Gambhir’s mother suffered a heart attack on Wednesday and was admitted to the ICU at a hospital in New Delhi. “Gautam’s mother had a heart attack on Wednesday. He and his family left for India on Thursday and they have reached Delhi,” PTI quoted sources as saying.
Gambhir had travelled to England earlier than the senior squad to oversee the India A team’s performance against England Lions in a two-match unofficial Test series. His return came on the same day India was scheduled to play an intra-squad match in preparation for the main Test series. This is not the first time family matters have called Gambhir back; he had to leave Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the past for a similar situation.
Assistant Coach Steps In During Gambhir’s Absence
With Gautam Gambhir temporarily unavailable, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate will take charge during the ongoing four-day intra-squad match between India and India A. He will be supported by other members of the coaching staff including bowling coach Morne Morkel and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak.
Gambhir is expected to return within a week, rejoining the squad before the England Test series kicks off on June 20. The Indian team faces a tough task ahead in England, especially after the retirement of experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket. Their departure has created a significant gap in leadership and experience, leaving the team to depend on young players to carry the mantle forward in the demanding English conditions.
India’s Young Squad Gears Up for Tough England Tour
India’s five-match Test series in England begins on June 20 in Leeds and will go on until August. The other venues include Edgbaston, Lord’s, The Oval, and Old Trafford. Without Rohit and Virat, India’s Test side will now be led by Shubman Gill, with Rishabh Pant as the vice-captain. The team features many young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, and Nitish Reddy.
The England team for the first Test includes key players like Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Ollie Pope. This series marks a fresh chapter for Indian Test cricket, as a younger generation steps into the spotlight hoping to make its mark in one of the toughest cricketing conditions.
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