Gautam Gambhir Rushes Home After Mother Hospitalized in ICU: Report

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir had to rush back to India from England due to a family emergency just hours before the India vs India A intra-squad practice match in Kent. According to reports, Gambhir’s mother, Seema, suffered a heart attack and is currently in the ICU.

Gambhir missed the practice session on Thursday but is expected to rejoin the team before the first Test against England, which starts in Leeds on June 20.

With Gambhir away, the senior Indian team for the four-day intra-squad match against India A will be led by batting coach Sitangshu Kotak and bowling coach Morne Morkel.

This is Gambhir’s first England tour as India’s head coach, and his role is seen as extremely important. The Indian Test team is undergoing a major transition after the retirements of stalwarts like Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli. In their last overseas series, India lost 1-3 to Australia.

Gambhir will be supporting the team under new captain Shubman Gill, who is aiming to lead India to their first Test series win in England in 18 years — the last one came under Rahul Dravid in 2007.

Gambhir, who played a key role in selecting this new-look Test squad, wanted the intra-squad match to be played on a surface that closely resembles a real Test match pitch. He also insisted on holding the sessions behind closed doors to keep tactical plans under wraps, a strategy borrowed from European football clubs. This was also done during the recent tour of Australia.

What to expect from the India vs India A match?

This four-day game, which doesn’t have official first-class status, gives players a second chance if they get out early. With 360 overs over four days, the match will help the bowlers get plenty of practice and find their rhythm ahead of the Test series.

To decide on the lone specialist spinner for the upcoming Headingley Test, will be one of Gambhir’s key challenges will be t. Ravindra Jadeja, known for his strong batting and bowling, is a major contender. However, Kuldeep Yadav, with his ability to complement pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, could be crucial against England’s aggressive batting style, famously called ‘Bazball’. Choosing between Jadeja and Kuldeep is one of the biggest puzzles for Gambhir and the coaching staff.

The intra-squad match will also help the coaches and captain Shubman Gill figure out which bowlers are best suited to English conditions — whether it’s Akash Deep’s fuller length or Prasidh Krishna’s back-of-the-length deliveries.