Due to a family crisis, Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of Team India, has returned home from the England trip halfway. Before the intra-squad warm-up match, Gambhir flew back to India to care for his mother, who is in the hospital. The Indian team was accompanied to England for the five-Test series that began on June 20 by the head coach, who also participated in the practice sessions before the warm-up games. However, he had to leave for home because of an unexpected family crisis.

During the four-day intra-squad encounter between India and India A, which begins on Friday, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate will lead the squad in Gambhir's absence.

Hindustan Times was informed by sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that Gambhir is indeed returning to India and spending time with his family.

"Gambhir departed for India on Wednesday due to a family crisis. "His family is in our prayers," said one source.

"The exact date of his arrival in the UK is still unknown and is contingent on his mother's recovery. If all goes well, he should return for the first Test in Headingley," the source stated.

After suffering a heart arrest, Gambhir's mother is now being treated in a Delhi hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU). His return to England will be contingent upon the progression of her condition.

R. Ashwin goes back home in the middle of the 2024 ENG series

In recent times, a member of the Indian team has left a series midway due to a family crisis. This occurred to recently retired spinner Ravichandran Ashwin while India was hosting England in a Test series in 2024. Upon discovering that his mother had been hospitalized after a blackout, Ashwin abandoned the squad momentarily to be with her and hurried back to his Chennai home during the third Test against England in Rajkot.

"When I arrived and went to the hospital, my mother was alternating between consciousness and unconsciousness, and the first thing she asked me was, 'Why did you come?' Ashwin remarked to "ESPNCricinfo" that when she next awoke, she urged him to return since the Test match was underway. He rejoined the Indian squad after his mother had stabilized.

During the Champions Trophy earlier this year, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel had to leave Dubai unexpectedly due to a family crisis. After learning of his father Alberts' death, Morkel returned to South Africa on February 17. His exit comes at a critical time, just days before India's first game against Bangladesh in the 2025 Champions Trophy. He subsequently reunited with the Indian squad in Dubai in preparation for the team's last Champions Trophy Group A encounter against New Zealand.

Read Also: R Ashwin’s Caution to Gambhir and Gill: Bumrah’s Fatigue Shouldn’t Be Overlooked

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