New Delhi: India's clean sweep defeat against New Zealand in the Test series has left everyone shocked. This unprecedented defeat has put Gautam Gambhir under immense pressure barely 3 months after he was appointed as the head coach of Team India. Gambhir was appointed as the team's coach with much fanfare. Along with this, he was also recently included in the selection committee meeting for the Australia tour. His initial report card with the national team clearly shows that things are not looking good for the former opener. Gambhir has also been given a lot of leeway in team selection matters and if there is no major improvement in the team's performance on the Australia tour, then he will not be able to play as important a role in team-related issues in the coming times.

Soon after Gautam Gambhir took over, India lost the ODI series to Sri Lanka for the first time in 27 years. Then New Zealand whitewashed their team 3-0 in the home Test on Sunday. India had never been whitewashed in a series of three or more matches before this. The coach can only make plans with the team but questions are being raised about him for selecting a pitch in Mumbai that was completely favorable to spinners despite knowing the weakness of Indian batsmen against spinners. Gambhir wants the same attitude from the players in every situation, which is difficult to understand even for those closely associated with Indian cricket.

Gautam Gambhir was given such authority that …
Sending fast bowler Mohammad Siraj as a nightwatchman on the second evening of the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai and agreeing to send Sarfaraz Khan at number eight in the first innings are some of the strategic moves that everyone is questioning. A BCCI source told PTI on the condition of anonymity, 'Gautam Gambhir was given such authority which his predecessors Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid did not have. BCCI rules do not allow the coach to be a part of the selection committee meetings, but there was an exception for the selection meeting of the Australia tour.'

'The head coach was allowed to participate'
The board source said, 'Given the importance of the tour, the head coach was allowed to participate in it.' Delhi and KKR fast bowler Harshit Rana and Andhra and SRH all-rounder Nitish Reddy are among the two players who have been selected in the team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the demand of the head coach. The Australia series will be a tough test for Gambhir as he may have to defend some veteran players as well as show them the mirror. Because the board has a keen eye on him.