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Published : 17 Jun 2025, 03:16 AM
India head coach Gautam Gambhir who had flown back to home last Wednesday to be with his ailing mother is set to rejoin the squad in England.
The former Indian opener will join the side in Leeds on Tuesday, just three days before the start of the first Test match.
Gambhir’s mother was admitted to Delhi’s Ganga Ram Hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest a few days ago. He missed the three-day warm-up match between India’s main squad and the A team in Beckenham as he was not with the team.
The condition of Gambhir’s mother has now improved, according to cricket website ESPNcricinfo.
In the absence of Gambhir, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, and bowling coach Morne Morkel oversaw the team's preparations.
Once back in England, Gambhir will have to swiftly finalise the playing XI along with the rest of the team management ahead of the first Test against England. The England Test series marks India’s first series under Gill’s captaincy since the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the format.
Batters like uncapped Sai Sudharsan and the returning Karun Nair are among the contenders to fill the Rohit and Kohli vacancies. Karun recently bolstered his case for selection with a double ton against England Lions in an unofficial Test for India A while Dhruv Jurel and Abhimanyu Easwaran have also been among runs.
It was previously confirmed that India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will play in only three of the five Tests in the series to manage his workload although it remained undecided which three games he will play.
The first Test match between India and England will start at Headingley on Friday.
