The Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has come under immense fire following his flop show in the recently concluded bilateral series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Since his appointment in early July, Gambhir has been dealing with absolute extremes. It started off with an impressive 3-0 T20I series win in Sri Lanka and a clean sweep against the Tigers at home across formats. 

Questions were raised after India managed to lose an ODI series against Sri Lanka for the first time in 27 years but the loss that perhaps hurts the most is India's humiliating test series defeat at home against a fairly inexperienced New Zealand side. Under his mentorship, India went on to attain a rare unwanted record of being whitewashed for the first time at home in a three-match bilateral series. 

The Rohit Sharma-led Indian side suffered a string of shocking defeats at Bangalore, Pune, and Mumbai as their batters severely faltered against facing spin in their own backyard. There was a growing sense of optimism when Gambhir assumed the coaching role for the Blues but all those talks have now gone for a toss as Gautam Gambhir faces a possible exclusion from his coaching duties if the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy does not go to plan. 

Gambhir's position under threat

According to a report published by Dainik Jagran, there are high chances of Gambhir being replaced by VVS Laxman should the team fail to deliver any possible results in Australia. This move can turn into a reality in the midst of the series as well. Gambhir's role will then be confined to India's white-ball assignments. It is not clear how Gambhir would react to such an unprecedented change but if the BGT series turns out to be closely contested, then the management will have a tough call to make on Gambhir's future as a head coach in the longest format. 

A galloping six-hour scrutiny for Gambhir

The unthinkable Test series sweep against the Kiwis at home is undoubtedly a tough spill to swallow for everyone at BCCI. The management is tightening their scores on Gambhir and is demanding some tough answers from him. As per PTI, Gambhir was reportedly interrogated for six hours straight in a meeting comprising chief selector Ajit Agarkar and India's ODI and Test skipper Rohit Sharma.

In this in-depth review meeting, Gambhir's decision to go with rank turners and rest Bumrah ahead of the crucial third Test and Gambhir's overall coaching style were all put under the scanner. Following such an infamous debacle, such an outcome was expected from the BCCI. The management would obviously like to ensure that the team gets back on track and would gets battle-ready just in time to face the mighty Aussies in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy.  

See also: Details of 6 hours review meeting reveals after India's heartbreaking 0-3 defeat against NZ

Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL) witnessed several remarkable victories that showcased his leadership skills and the team’s resilience. When Gautam Gambhir assumed the role of captaincy for KKR, he faced immense pressure due to the departure of Sourav Ganguly, a beloved figure among fans. The challenge was not just to lead the team but also to win back the support of disillusioned fans.

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On 8th April 2011, Gambhir led the KKR squad onto the field for the first time as captain. Despite the pressure, Gambhir showcased his unique style of leadership, which immediately caught the attention of fans and critics alike.

Despite losing his first match as captain by a narrow margin, Gambhir’s leadership set the tone for the rest of the season. Under his guidance, KKR went on to achieve their best-ever performance in the IPL, reaching the semi-finals for the first time in the franchise’s history.

In subsequent seasons, Gambhir continued to showcase his strategic brilliance, particularly in setting up the field during matches. One notable instance was when he surprised everyone by employing unconventional field placements against MS Dhoni in IPL 2015.

Let’s explore three memorable wins that left an indelible mark in KKR’s IPL journey under Gambhir’s captaincy.

IPL 2012 Final: KKR vs. CSK

In the final match of IPL 2012, KKR faced the formidable Chennai Super Kings (CSK) led by MS Dhoni. It was a high-stakes encounter, with both teams vying for their maiden IPL title. Despite a challenging total of 190 runs set by CSK, KKR’s bowlers delivered a stellar performance, restricting CSK to 190/3. KKR’s chase was anchored by Manvinder Bisla’s blistering knock of 89 runs off 48 balls, guiding the team to their first IPL title with a memorable victory by five wickets.

12th May 2013: KKR vs. RCB

In the 60th match of IPL 2013, KKR faced Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a crucial encounter. With RCB batting first and setting a modest target of 116 runs, KKR’s spin maestro Sunil Narine wreaked havoc, clinching four critical wickets. Despite early setbacks in the chase, Jacques Kallis’s innings of 41* runs steered KKR to victory, showcasing the team’s resilience under pressure and Gambhir’s astute captaincy.

Qualifier 1, IPL 2014: KKR vs. Kings XI Punjab

In Qualifier 1 of IPL 2014, KKR clashed with table-toppers Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) to secure a spot in the final. Opting to bat first, KKR posted a challenging total of 163 runs. The bowlers, led by Umesh Yadav and Morne Morkel, staged a remarkable comeback, restricting KXIP to 135/8. KKR emerged victorious by 28 runs, showcasing their ability to thrive under pressure and setting the stage for their eventual triumph in IPL 2014.