Following India's Champions Trophy 2025 victory, Indian cricket head coach Gautam Gambhir is preparing for a fresh assignment as he gears up to join the India 'A' team ahead of the senior side's tour of England in June. According to reports, Gambhir will become the first-ever Team India head coach to accompany the India 'A' side for an overseas tour, breaking away from the conventional coaching trend. In recent years, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has entrusted National Cricket Academy (NCA) coaches to manage India 'A' and U19 teams during international tours. Prominent cricket legends like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman previously took charge of these assignments. After Dravid transitioned to become the head coach of the Indian senior team, Laxman and other NCA coaches assumed responsibility for guiding the junior squads.
 

However, Gambhir’s decision to accompany the India 'A' squad reflects his proactive approach toward strengthening India's red-ball cricket ecosystem. Since returning from India's disappointing campaign in Australia, Gambhir has been in talks with the BCCI, expressing his desire to analyze India’s reserve talent pool more closely. According to a Times of India report, Gambhir’s role on the England tour — whether as an active coach or as an observer — has not yet been confirmed. Nonetheless, the move underscores Gambhir’s strategic intent to revamp India’s red-ball cricket framework and assess emerging talent. A BCCI source revealed, "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." The source further highlighted Gambhir’s growing influence, stating, "With India winning the Champions Trophy after Gambhir's insistence on certain wild card players, one may expect him to assert more in future."
 

In addition to talent scouting, Gambhir reportedly believes that the India 'A' tour schedule is currently inadequate. Since Dravid’s departure from the NCA, there have been only a limited number of ‘A’ series matches, most of which were planned as shadow tours for marquee events. Gambhir has advocated for increased India 'A' tours to improve player development, offering promising cricketers more exposure to challenging conditions abroad. "One of the crucial issues identified is reviving India 'A' tours. There have been only a handful of ‘A’ series after Dravid left the NCA and all of those were shadow tours for a marquee series. Gambhir too believes that there needs to be more 'A' tours. That's why he wants to take stock of the situation firsthand," the BCCI source explained. As Gambhir continues to shape India's cricketing strategy, his hands-on approach with the India 'A' squad reflects his commitment to strengthening the nation’s bench strength and ensuring consistent performance in red-ball cricket. With India’s next major assignment being a tour of England, Gambhir’s involvement with the second-string side could play a pivotal role in discovering emerging talent for the national team’s future campaigns.