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.

Kush Maini has officially been appointed as a Reserve and Test driver for the BWT Alpine Formula One Team, making headlines as the third Indian driver to join an F1 team, following in the footsteps of Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandok. This announcement comes as part of Alpine’s strategy to expand their pool of Test and Reserve drivers, which includes talents like Franco Colapinto, Ryo Hirakawa, and Paul Aron. During the upcoming season, rookie Jack Doohan and seasoned driver Pierre Gasly will race for Alpine.

Alpine shared the news of Maini’s new role through a social media post: “Kush Maini. 2025 Test and Reserve Driver. We’re delighted to announce our Alpine Academy driver has extended his role for the 2025 season.”

In an official communication, the team expressed their excitement about Kush joining the squad’s Test and Reserve Drivers: “As Test and Reserve Driver, Kush will play a critical role in supporting the team’s car development and setup initiatives. His work will involve utilizing the driver-in-loop simulator at Enstone and participating in the TPC Programme, which is designed to enhance driving skills in modern Formula One machinery.”

At 24 years old, Kush from Karnataka joined the Alpine Academy in October 2023 and has since made a name for himself in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, clinching five podium finishes, including a victory in Hungary.

Expressing his enthusiasm about the new position, Kush stated, “I am delighted to step up to the role of Test and Reserve Driver for BWT Alpine. The entire Alpine family has welcomed me since I joined the Academy, and I am grateful for the support from Flavio and Oliver. I look forward to gaining more track experience with F1 machinery and building on what I have learned in 2024. However, my immediate focus is on my upcoming third season in Formula 2, which kicks off this weekend in Australia.”

Julian Rouse, the Alpine Academy Director, praised Kush’s progress: “We are thrilled to announce the expansion of Kush’s role to include Test and Reserve Driver duties for the team this season. His impressive performances in both TPC and Formula 2 have shown us his potential, and we expect him to continue excelling in 2025. This broadened role enhances our reservoir of talent that can provide support to the team throughout the busy race season.”

Last season, Kush finished 13th in the Formula 2 driver standings. Notably, his former teammate from Invicta Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, secured the championship and is now set to race with the Kick Sauber-Ferrari team next season.

In addition to his new F1 responsibilities, Kush will maintain his participation in Alpine’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) Programme and continue contesting in the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship with DAMS.

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.