Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has issued a stark warning, stating that current India head coach Gautam Gambhir faces a "big and difficult decision" regarding his position if the Indian team fails to defend its T20 World Cup title in 2026. Tiwary believes the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should consider removing Gambhir if India does not secure the trophy in the upcoming tournament. Gambhir took over as India's head coach in July 2024, signing a three-year contract that extends until the 2027 One Day International (ODI) World Cup.[indianexpress+2]
High Stakes for Coach Gambhir
Manoj Tiwary, a former India batter, shared his views in recent interviews, emphasizing the critical nature of the 2026 T20 World Cup for Gambhir's tenure. "If Gautam Gambhir fails to win the T20 World Cup 2026, then the BCCI should take a big and difficult decision," Tiwary told InsideSport.He acknowledged that the BCCI secretary has publicly stated that Gambhir will continue until his contract expires, with no plans for his removal.However, Tiwary added a strong caveat, suggesting that a lack of success in the T20 World Cup could lead the BCCI to "take a big call and will remove him."This statement puts significant pressure on Gambhir as the tournament approaches.[indianexpress+7]
The 2026 T20 World Cup marks Gambhir's first World Cup as India's head coach.India enters the tournament as the defending champions, having won the previous edition in 2024 under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma.The team will begin its title defense on February 7 against the United States at the Wankhede Stadium in India, which is also hosting the 20-team tournament.Suryakumar Yadav is set to captain the Indian side in this crucial event.[indianexpress+10]
Gambhir's Mixed Coaching Record
Gautam Gambhir's coaching tenure has seen varied results across different formats. His record in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) has been notably strong. In 2025, the Indian T20 team under Gambhir won 16 T20I matches while losing only three.Since their 2024 T20 World Cup victory, India has maintained an impressive T20I win-loss record of 32-5, including seven T20I series wins.This translates to a remarkable 90% win rate in T20Is under his leadership, often characterized by an aggressive approach in limited-overs cricket.Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has also backed India as clear favorites for the 2026 T20 World Cup, citing their current form and match fitness.[indianexpress+7]
However, Gambhir's performance in Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket has faced more scrutiny. India recently lost an ODI series against New Zealand and suffered two Test series defeats at home against South Africa (0-2) and New Zealand.The team also experienced a 1-3 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia and a 2-2 draw with England in Test matches.Under Gambhir, India's win rate in Tests stands at 36.84%, with seven wins and ten losses out of 19 matches played.These inconsistent results in the longer formats have led to discussions about the sustainability of his coaching approach across all forms of the game.[indianexpress+8]
BCCI's Stance and Potential Successor
Despite the public discourse, the BCCI has indicated its intention to support Gambhir. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia addressed the speculation surrounding Gambhir's future, stating that the board would "pursue with Gambhir till his contract expires."Saikia also commented on the nature of cricket discussions in India, noting that in a democratic country of 140 crore people, "everybody is a cricket expert" and free to voice their opinions.This suggests the board is aware of the external pressure but intends to honor its contractual obligations.[indianexpress+3]
Manoj Tiwary, however, has already proposed a potential alternative if a change becomes necessary. He suggested that the BCCI should try to persuade former India batter VVS Laxman to take over as head coach.Tiwary highlighted Laxman's experience, noting that he often served as a stand-in coach when former head coach Rahul Dravid was unavailable, and has a good winning percentage in that role.Tiwary described Laxman as a "level-headed guy" and a "good human being" with coaching experience, making him an ideal candidate.[indianexpress+6]
Past Dynamics and Future Outlook
The relationship between Manoj Tiwary and Gautam Gambhir has had its share of public differences. In January 2025, Tiwary publicly criticized Gambhir, even calling him a "hypocrite."This criticism stemmed from Gambhir's coaching style, selection decisions, and accusations that he took undue credit for the success of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during their shared time in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Tiwary also questioned Gambhir's choice of overseas support staff, recalling an earlier comment by Gambhir criticizing the BCCI for hiring foreign coaches.These past interactions add another layer of intrigue to Tiwary's recent comments, highlighting a long-standing dynamic between the two former teammates.[sports+3]
As the 2026 T20 World Cup looms, the pressure on Gautam Gambhir is expected to intensify. While India's T20I performance under him has been exceptional, the results in Tests and ODIs have created a divided narrative. The tournament at home presents a significant opportunity for India to achieve a historic third T20 World Cup title and become the first team to win consecutive editions.For Gautam Gambhir, successfully defending the title could solidify his position, but failure might indeed lead to the "big and difficult call" that Manoj Tiwary has warned about.[mensxp+1]
