Gautam Gambhir to Travel with India A to England to Assess Reserve Pool: Reports

After winning the Champions Trophy 2025, the attention of Indian players now turns to IPL 2025. Though there are no international matches in India lined up for the coming three months, head coach Gautam Gambhir is already preparing for the make-or-break five-Test series in England, which begins towards the end of June. As per TOI, Gambhir plans to travel with the India 'A' team to England ahead of the senior team's tour, which begins on June 20.

The BCCI does not presently have a full-time coach for its developmental teams such as India 'A'. Thus, it is to be seen if Gambhir will travel as an observer or if VVS Laxman will take on the responsibility of coaching. Since Rahul Dravid became the head coach of the senior team, India 'A' and U-19 coaches have usually been picked from the National Cricket Academy.

If Gambhir joins the India ‘A’ squad on this tour, it will mark the first time that the senior team’s head coach travels with a developmental side. This decision highlights the level of commitment towards preparations for the upcoming England series.

Gautam Gambhir's Long-Term Vision for Indian Cricket

Gautam Gambhir is strategizing a long-term vision for Indian cricket across all formats. His primary goal is to develop a structured roadmap for the next two years, covering key tournaments like the 2026 T20 World Cup, the World Test Championship, and the 2027 ODI World Cup. A BCCI insider disclosed that since his return from Australia, Gambhir has been in frequent discussions with the board. He has expressed interest in traveling with the India ‘A’ squad to gain deeper insights into the emerging talent in the reserve pool.

“Gambhir has been in discussions with the BCCI since he returned from Australia. He has expressed his desire to travel with the India ‘A’ team to get a clearer view of the reserve pool,” a BCCI source told TOI.

The source also revealed that Gambhir played a crucial role in selecting a few wildcard players for the Champions Trophy 2025, and those choices proved to be successful as India clinched the title. Given this success, Gambhir is expected to have an even greater influence on team selections and key decisions moving forward.

"With India winning the Champions Trophy after Gambhir’s insistence for certain wild card players, one may expect him to assert more in future,” the source added.

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