Gautam Gambhir is poised to make history as the first-ever Team India head coach to travel with the India ‘A’ team on an overseas tour. Unlike his predecessors, Rahul Dravid and Ravi Shastri, who primarily focused on the senior squad, Gambhir is set to accompany the India ‘A’ side ahead of the senior team’s England tour in June.

A shift in coaching approach

For years, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has relied on National Cricket Academy (NCA) coaches to guide India ‘A’ and U19 teams during overseas assignments. Under this structure, stalwarts like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have mentored young talents before taking up key coaching roles with the senior side.

However, Gambhir, who recently guided India to Champions Trophy success, is keen to deepen his involvement in talent development. According to reports, he has already informed the board about his decision to travel with the India ‘A’ squad, breaking away from the usual protocol.

Why is Gambhir keen on the India ‘A’ tour?

Gambhir’s primary motive behind this move is to strengthen India’s red-ball cricket by assessing the depth of the talent pool. Since India’s recent struggles in Test cricket, particularly after their underwhelming tour of Australia, the coach aims to scout emerging players firsthand.

A BCCI source revealed, “Gambhir has been in discussions with the board since returning from Australia. He wants to closely observe the reserve players and assess their readiness for senior team selection.” The source further added that after successfully backing certain wildcard picks for India’s Champions Trophy win, Gambhir may continue asserting his selection strategies.

Focus on India ‘A’ tours revival

Another major aspect Gambhir is advocating for is an increase in India ‘A’ tours. He believes the current number of such assignments is insufficient for developing the next generation of cricketers. Since Rahul Dravid’s departure from NCA, there has been a dip in India ‘A’ tours, with most recent ones being mere shadow tours for marquee series.

“One of the key areas Gambhir has identified is the need to revive India ‘A’ tours. He believes there should be more frequent overseas assignments to better prepare young players for international cricket,” the source added.

A significant shift in India’s coaching methodology

If this move materializes, it will mark a major shift in India’s coaching methodology, setting a new precedent for future head coaches. While it remains to be seen whether Gambhir will travel as an observer or actively coach the side, his involvement in nurturing young talent could reshape the way India approaches player development.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the exclusion of its CEO and Champions Trophy tournament director, Sumair Ahmed Syed, from the presentation ceremony of the Champions Trophy final held in Dubai. According to sources within the PCB, chairman Mohsin Naqvi has rejected the explanation provided by the ICC and is preparing to register a formal protest.

ICC’s explanation not accepted by PCB

The ICC reportedly informed the PCB that arrangements had been made for Naqvi to be present on stage, but when he did not attend the final match, the presentation ceremony plans were altered. However, PCB sources claim that this reasoning does not justify ignoring Ahmed Syed, who was directly involved in organizing the event.

The PCB has also pointed out other instances where it felt that its role as the tournament’s host nation was undermined. These included the alteration of the Champions Trophy 2025 logo during the live broadcast of the India vs Bangladesh match and an incident during the Australia vs England game in Lahore, where the Indian national anthem was mistakenly played before being quickly rectified.

Presentation ceremony dominated by Indian cricket officials

The presentation ceremony saw BCCI president Roger Binny awarding white jackets to the Indian players and medals to match officials, while ICC chairman Jay Shah handed the Champions Trophy to Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and distributed medals to the winning team. Others present on the stage included BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and New Zealand Cricket’s CEO Roger Twose, but no representative from the PCB was included.

Mohsin Naqvi expresses gratitude despite controversy

Despite the ongoing dispute, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi took to social media to express his appreciation for everyone involved in the successful organization of the Champions Trophy. He extended his gratitude to PCB officials, law enforcement agencies, provincial governments, ICC officials, and visiting teams for their contributions.

“Your commitment and collective efforts ensured the seamless execution of the prestigious tournament,” Naqvi stated, emphasizing that Pakistan takes immense pride in hosting the Champions Trophy and making it a spectacle for cricket fans worldwide.

Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal made headlines during the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai, but not for his performance on the field. Instead, his presence in the stands with a mystery woman caught the attention of fans and social media users.

The high-stakes final saw New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner winning the toss and opting to bat first. This marked India’s 15th consecutive toss loss in ODI cricket, including 12 under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. Despite this setback, India’s bowlers performed exceptionally well, restricting the Blackcaps to 251/7 in 50 overs. Spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav led the attack, each claiming two wickets, while Daryl Mitchell was the top scorer for New Zealand with 63 runs.

Chahal’s appearance with RJ Mahvash sparks intrigue

While fans were engrossed in the final match, Chahal’s presence with a woman in the stands turned heads. The mystery woman was later identified as Mahvash, a well-known radio jockey. The sighting comes amid Chahal’s ongoing divorce proceedings with his wife, Dhanashree Verma.

For months, speculations about their separation had circulated online, and reports confirmed last week that the couple had officially filed for divorce. Their legal proceedings are currently underway at the Bandra Family Court, where both were reportedly present for hearings. However, Dhanashree’s lawyer, Aditi Mohan, dismissed several media claims, urging for responsible reporting and fact-checking.

Dhanashree’s family denies alimony rumors

Amid the divorce news, certain media reports suggested that Dhanashree had demanded ₹60 crore as alimony. However, her family issued a statement strongly refuting these claims, calling them baseless and urging media outlets to refrain from spreading misinformation.

“We are deeply outraged by the false claims regarding the alimony figure. No such demand was made, and such misinformation only adds unnecessary speculation. We request media houses to respect privacy and verify facts before reporting,” the statement read.

Chahal set to play for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025

On the professional front, Chahal is gearing up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The seasoned spinner was signed by Punjab Kings for a massive ₹18 crore during the IPL mega auction in December 2024.