NEW DELHI: Former India batter Manoj Tiwary believes the BCCI may be forced to take a “big and difficult decision” on head coach Gautam Gambhir if India fail to successfully defend their T20 World Cup title on home soil, underlining the tournament’s significance for the former opener’s future.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Although Gambhir has enjoyed an impressive run in T20Is as a coach — the pressure has mounted sharply due to poor returns in the other two formats. Since taking charge in July 2024, India have lost home Test series against New Zealand and South Africa and were recently beaten by a depleted New Zealand side in a three-match ODI series. Against that backdrop, the upcoming 20-team T20 World Cup, beginning on February 7, has assumed critical importance.
Tiwary said the BCCI should not hesitate to act if results do not go India’s way.“If India doesn’t win the T20 World Cup, then I think that the BCCI should take a big and difficult decision regarding Gautam Gambhir,” Tiwary told InsideSport.He acknowledged that the board has publicly backed the coach. “The BCCI secretary has already stated that Gambhir will continue until his contract expires, and there is no question of removing him,” Tiwary said, before adding a caveat. “But I think the 2026 T20 World Cup, if the result doesn’t come in this, then the BCCI will remove him and take a big call.”
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Looking ahead, Tiwary also suggested a possible successor should the BCCI decide to part ways with Gambhir. He urged the board to convince former India batter VVS Laxman to take over the role. “I think it has to be a process-driven thing. When Rahul Dravid was the coach and didn’t go on certain tours, VVS Laxman used to go. So he was the natural choice,” Tiwary said.India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, are placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Namibia, the Netherlands and the USA. The hosts open their campaign against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium on February 7.
