Gautam Gambhir returning to India, family emergency

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir is returning home from England due to a family emergency. His mother suffered a heart attack.

Gautam’s mother, Seema Gambhir, reportedly suffered a heart attack on June 11, and hence, the India coach had to leave the tour midway to fly back home. It is learned that he will now join the team on 17th June, just three days ahead of the first Test at Headingley, Leeds.

The England tour is India’s first assignment after the retirement of the legendary trio of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin from Test cricket. Hence, it will mark the beginning of a new era of Indian cricket with Gill and Gambhir at the helm.

With Gambhir away, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate will assume the team's charge during the four-day intra-squad match between India and India A, which begins on Friday. During this four-day warm-up game, players will undergo 360 overs of match simulation, which will allow the bowlers to have enough overs under their belt before they start the series.

Ten Doeschate will have help available from other members of the coaching staff like bowling coach Morne Morkel and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak.

Another such family matter had earlier prompted Gambhir to fly back home from Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.