​Gautam Gambhir’s India support staff could be overhauled as Ryan ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel weigh their futures after the England series, according to reports from Cricket News. The article notes that both men are considering exits when their India coaching contracts come to an end following the ODI series in England later this month. Fielding coach T. Dilip is also under scrutiny as India’s fielding standards continue to slide, adding to the sense of upheaval around the setup.
Both ten Doeschate and Morkel were selected by Gambhir when he assumed charge of the Indian team in 2024, making their potential departures a significant churn for the head coach’s inner circle barely two years into his tenure. A BCCI source cited by The Times of India indicated that the board is scrambling to resolve these matters ahead of India’s next assignment. The source suggested that ten Doeschate has expressed reservations about continuing in the role, citing struggles with travel and the demanding year-round schedule. Morkel’s position, the source added, is equally unsettled, with the fast-bowling coach weighing his options as discussions between the coaches and the board continue.
Reports indicate ten Doeschate is in talks with an IPL franchise, while Morkel has not committed firmly to any particular path. The timing is delicate, given India’s forthcoming two-Test series in Sri Lanka in the first week of August. If the board cannot resolve the impasse, TOI reports that the BCCI could be forced to deploy Lakshmipathy Balaji, newly appointed fast-bowling coach at the Centre of Excellence, to Sri Lanka. VVS Laxman is already set to bring his CoE staff to Zimbabwe for the three-match T20I series in late July.
Beyond the headliners, the future of the support staff is in question. TOI has also highlighted that fielding coach T. Dilip faces pressure to keep his job as the board grows increasingly unhappy with India’s declining fielding standards. The criticism intensified in Southampton, where India dropped several regulation catches, including opportunities to dismiss Jos Buttler and Harry Brook on multiple occasions. The broader backdrop is a team that recently surrendered the No. 1 status in two crucial formats and endured India’s first comprehensive whitewash in a long white-ball series in England. As the august discussions unfold, the Indian setup could undergo a broader reshaping that stretches from the coaching staff to the fielding and support personnel, signaling a potential reconstitution of Gambhir’s strategic framework ahead of upcoming international assignments.