Gautam Gambhir's heated exchange with Morne Morkel during Australia series causes tension between duo: Report

The tension supposedly started when Morkel showed up late to a training session due to a prior personal commitment. Gambhir, famous for his no-nonsense attitude towards discipline, wasted no time in reprimanding Morkel right there on the field.

A source close to the situation told TOI, “Gambhir is very strict about discipline. He reprimanded Morkel immediately at the ground. The board has been told that Morkel was a bit reserved during the rest of the tour. It’s up to these two to sort it out for the team to function smoothly.”

This incident has left the coaching staff’s dynamics in question, and the BCCI is reportedly closely monitoring the situation.

BCCI keeping a close watch on support staff

While addressing internal coaching matters, the BCCI is also keeping a watchful eye on the overall performance of the support staff. The board has been soliciting feedback from senior players on how well the coaching staff has contributed to the team’s success.

Among the coaching roles under scrutiny is that of batting coach Abhishek Nayar, with legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar even questioning his effectiveness after Virat Kohli struggled with repeated edges in the recent Tests.

The source added, “Batting coach Abhishek Nayar is particularly under the scanner. Gambhir himself has been an accomplished batter. The board has asked the players if Nayar is bringing anything new to the table.”

Similarly, concerns have been raised about assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. His lack of international experience and his ability to contribute meaningfully to the development of international cricketers has drawn attention.

In response, the BCCI is reportedly considering capping the contracts of support staff, limiting their tenure to two to three years. “The board feels loyalty issues creep in after the coaches spend a lot of time with the team. But it has benefited from a side-arm specialist who offers throwdowns,” the source said.

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