Team India’s wretched form in the T20I format continued with yet another series loss. England humbled the Men in Blue on Thursday as they lost the 4th T20I by nine wickets. The last time the Indian cricket team lost two successive T20I series was way back in 2019.

As per reports, Gautam Gambhir and his coaching staff are set to be assessed by the BCCI after the series loss. Even player performances are set to be reviewed with India next set to tour Zimbabwe for a three-match series. England completely outplayed India during the course of the current tour.

Gambhir was named the coach after India’s T20 World Cup win in 2024 under Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid.

The duo ended an 11-year wait for an ICC title, after which Rohit decided to retire from the format and Dravid decided to step down as the coach. India’s former batter was at the helm when the side won its third T20 WC earlier this year, under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy.

Here are five ideal coaching candidates if Gautam Gambhir is sacked

Plumbing Laxman

Former Indian cricket legend is set to be the coach in Zimbabwe and at the Asian Games 2026 tournament.

Laxman has already been in the dugout with the national side during the 2024 Zimbabwean tour. Shubman Gill’s side won the series 4-1, and Laxman led a seamless transition post Rahul Dravid’s stint. If the 51-year-old is appointed as the coach, he will give players much-needed clarity and also a long rope to perform. Hyderabadi legend is also known to be an excellent communicator, which can also come in handy.

Kumar Sangakkara

An outside choice, but an effective one at that, former Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara could be a great choice as India’s T20I coach. Sangakkara has already changed the fortunes of Rajasthan Royalsmaking them a strong contender in the IPL. The 49-year-old is known to encourage his side to play natural cricket in the league. Under his tutelage, RR has reached the IPL finals in 2022 and the playoffs in the 2026 season.

Andy Flower

Yet another outside choice could be former Zimbabwe legendary batter Andy Flower. The 58-year-old has overseen Royal Challengers Bengaluru not just end their trophy drought but also win two titles in successive years. Flower’s arrival has also seen RCB play an aggressive brand of cricket and dominate opponents. He has also coached England in the past and has a lot of experience in handling big dressing rooms.

Ricky Ponting

Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting could be an ideal choice to coach the Indian T20I side. The 51-year-old has a great understanding of Shreyas Iyer, having shared a dressing room with the player in Delhi Capitals previously and Punjab Kings currently. Ponting had also coached the Mumbai Indians to an IPL title win in 2015 and is considered a great motivator off the field. Many players have praised the Tasmanian legend for his tactical acumen and ability to communicate with the players.

Ashish Nehra

India’s former pacer Ashish Nehra has won a lot of plaudits for his way of coaching in the IPL. The 47-year-old has been at the helm of affairs with Gujarat Titans since 2022 and won the title in their first year. Nehra has also seen the side reach two finals in 2023 and 2026 after having played some amazing cricket. If the board decides to sack Gambhir as the T20I coach and look for an Indian name, then Ashish’s name could be right at the top.