India Coach Gautam Gambhir Walking On Thin Ice After Heavy Defeats Against Sri Lanka and New Zealand

Unprecedented series defeats against Sri Lanka and New Zealand have placed Gautam Gambhir under immense pressure barely three months into his appointment as head coach of Indian team.

He was appointed to top post amid much fanfare and was also given a rare seat at selection committee meeting for tour of Australia. However, his initial report card clearly suggests things aren't looking good for former India opener.

Unless re is a remarkable turnaround Down Under, Gambhir, who was given a free hand in selection matters, may t have as much say in issues concerning team in coming times.

Right after Gambhir took over reins, India lost an ODI series to Sri Lanka for first time in 27 years, and n New Zealand completed a 3-0 whitewash of his side in Tests at home on Sunday, something team never experienced in its long cricketing journey.

While coach can do only as much, questions are w being raised about lack of prudence on display by going for a rank turner in Mumbai despite kwing that top-order has time and again failed in last six to seven years against quality spin bowling on wickets offering decent turn.

Even Gambhir's philosophy of playing same way, come hell or high water, is something that those associated closely with Indian cricket have failed to fathom.

Agreeing to send pacer Mohammed Siraj as night-watchman on second evening of third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai and Sarfaraz Khan at .8 in first innings are some of tactical moves that are being questioned by everyone.

"Gautam Gambhir was given access which his predecessors Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid didn't have. BCCI's rule book doesn't allow coaches to be a part of selection committee meetings, but for Australia tour selection meeting, an exception was made.

" head coach was allowed to attend considering magnitude of tour," a senior BCCI source told PTI on condition of anymity.

At least two players -- Delhi and KKR speedster Harshit Rana and Andhra and SRH all-rounder Nitish Reddy -- are in Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) squad on insistence of head coach.

However, Rana wasn't given any white-ball game in eir Sri Lanka or during home series against Bangladesh . It was reported that he was released before last match as he was unwell but within a week, he was back bowling in India nets in Bengaluru. And n, he had a good Ranji Trophy outing against Assam .

re was a school of thought that believed Rana, rar than featuring in Ranji Trophy, could have been sent to Australia with India A team as playing one or two first-class games on bouncy tracks re would have allowed him to hit right length before Test series.

Instead, he was turned into a net bowler for just-concluded Test series in which two of three tracks were rank turners.

Coming to Reddy, he got into a tangle while facing a short ball in 'A' game and his bowling, which is certainly t good eugh to be among main five bowlers, has also raised concerns.

Impressed with Reddy's T20 skills, Gambhir was convinced that he can be ideal replacement of Hardik Pandya as seam bowling all-rounder.

Australia series will be an acid test for Gambhir as he might have to also become harbinger of doom for some senior players and show m mirror as board watches his moves from sidelines.

whitewash has also put maverick Delhi man under lens.