Coaching Staff Contracts Set to Expire After England Series
Coaching Changes on the Horizon
The coaching contracts for Gautam Gambhir's team are nearing their conclusion following the current series against England. Gambhir himself has a three-year deal that extends until the 2027 ODI World Cup, while his assistants Morne Morkel, Ryan ten Doeschate, and T Dilip were each given one-year contracts. Abhishek Nayar was also part of the management team but was dismissed after the 2025 Champions Trophy. T Dilip, who returned before the England tour in 2025, is also expected to miss out on an extension. Reports indicate that Morkel and ten Doeschate will likely remain, especially in light of India's recent struggles in fielding. The team's performance has notably declined during the UK tour, with numerous dropped catches and poor ground fielding leading to extra runs conceded.
Ten Doeschate previously served as a fielding coach for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). It remains uncertain whether a new fielding coach will be appointed or if he will take on additional responsibilities. Currently, he is the assistant coach, while Morkel holds the position of bowling coach.
Upcoming Review Meeting Post-England Tour
In related news, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced plans for a review meeting after the England tour concludes. India faced a disappointing series loss against Ireland in the recent two-match T20I series and suffered a 0-4 defeat in the five-match T20I series against England. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated, “The BCCI is currently assessing the performance of the Indian T20 team, which has not met expectations during the England series. However, such phases are not uncommon in international cricket. We view this as a temporary setback. After the ODI series concludes on July 19 and the team returns, we will hold a review meeting with key team members to analyze what went wrong in England. Given the upcoming ODI series, we are optimistic that the team will regain its form.” He emphasized that the review will focus solely on team performance and potential improvements, with no other topics on the agenda.