NEW DELHI: India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who had flown back to India last week due to a family emergency, is set to rejoin the national squad on Tuesday (June 17), just ahead of the opening Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, starting June 20.Gambhir had rushed home after his mother suffered a heart attack on June 11 and was admitted to the ICU of a Delhi hospital for treatment. He returned to be by her side on June 12.In his absence, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, and bowling coach Morne Morkel oversaw the team’s preparations, including a four-day intra-squad match between India and India A in Beckenham, which concluded on Sunday.Led by Shubman Gill, India’s Test squad is eyeing their first series win in England since 2007—when Rahul Dravid led the team to a historic victory.
India had previously triumphed in England in 1971 under Ajit Wadekar and in 1986 under Kapil Dev.TIMELINE: GAUTAM GAMBHIR’S ABSENCE AND RETURNJUNE 11: Gambhir’s mother suffered a heart attack and was hospitalised in Delhi.JUNE 12: Gambhir flew back home to be with his mother, as confirmed by TimesofIndia.com sources.JUNE 13: India played a four-day intra-squad match in Beckenham under the supervision of the assistant coaches.JUNE 17: Gambhir is scheduled to rejoin the squad in England.JUNE 20: The first Test of the five-match series begins at Headingley, Leeds.
