Why Harbhajan Singh Urges Patience for Gautam Gambhir Amid Split Coaching Debate

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Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has issued a firm call for stability within the national team’s leadership, urging the BCCI and fans to be patient with head coach Gautam Gambhir. Despite a historic 2-0 Test series loss to South Africa at home, Harbhajan insists that Gambhir deserves more time before the board considers the ‘split coaching’ model.

While India’s red-ball form has dipped, Harbhajan noted that Gambhir’s leadership has already delivered several cups in the white-ball formats, including the 2025 Champions Trophy and Asia Cup titles. 

The Internal Tug-of-War Over India’s Strategy


India’s form is top-notch in white-ball cricket, but the team is struggling in Test matches with two major losses at home ground against New Zealand and South Africa. These defeats hurt India’s chances of reaching the World Test Championship final. Some experts suggest a separate coach for red-ball cricket can fix these issues and believe VVS Laxman is the best candidate for this specific role. 

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Harbhajan, on the other hand, disapproves of this plan. He says the players are responsible for their performance on the field. The bowler also notes that the coach needs more time to build a strong team during this transition period.

While speaking to ANI news, Harbhajan also said, “It is not that easy to become a coach of India. To be a coach, you have to travel with the team for a whole year and keep yourself involved in the game. You have to be more engaged because there are multiple team selections, and you also need to focus on match results.”

How Delaying the Decision Can Affect the Team?


Many cricket fans are concerned about the future of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle. If the BCCI delays a decision on Gautam Gambhir and split coaching, it could hurt the development of young players. Currently, the National Cricket Academy and the senior team use different coaching styles, confusing athletes moving between formats.

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India will have a busy schedule for the next six months with the T20 World Cup and tours to New Zealand. Without a clear plan for Test matches, India might miss the next major final. This may lead to a loss in revenue and reputation for Indian cricket.

The future of Indian cricket is at a crossroads. Harbhajan Singh believes a single-coach strategy is essential to maintain stability within the team. However, some experts suggest that specialists are necessary to ensure top-tier performance in different formats. The BCCI must decide whether split coaching is an essential step for India during this transition phase of young players forming the team.