Gautam Gambhir’s mother, Seema, suffered a heart attack and is currently in the intensive care unit (ICU). The Indian team’s head coach has travelled back home to be with his family during this vital period.
Several media sites have stated that Gambhir was not present with the Indian team during Thursday’s practice session in Beckenham, Kent, ahead of the tour match. It is now verified that the Delhi native has returned home to deal with the family disaster that occurred on June 11.
According to reports, Gautam Gambhir is set to return to the Indian camp on Tuesday, June 17, three days before the first test against England.
The 43-year-old will be unable to attend India’s intra-squad game, which begins Friday, June 13, in Kent. However, bowling coach Morne Morkel and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate will be watching the players perform over the four-day match and providing input to Gambhir once he returns to the United Kingdom.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that the intra-squad game will be held behind closed doors. As a result, media people will be prevented from attending the unofficial practice match, which will take place between June 13 and June 16.
“June 13-16: Closed Intra squad game. There is no visual access to media/broadcast. A player/member of support staff would be made available to the media on the final day of the squad game, the BCCI announced previously.
For those who are unfamiliar, in intra-squad games, hitters can be recalled if they are dismissed early and management believes they need extra time in the middle to prepare for the next major series. The game will primarily act as a match simulation for the players, allowing them to become acquainted to the red-ball format after many of them competed in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, which ended on June 3.
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