Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, has urgently returned to India from England due to a family emergency. This news comes just days before the start of India's five-match Test series against England, scheduled to commence on June 20th.

Reports indicate that Gambhir's mother, Seema, suffered a heart attack on June 11th and is currently receiving treatment in the ICU of a Delhi hospital. Gambhir reportedly flew back to Delhi on June 12th to be with his mother. He is expected to rejoin the Indian team before the first Test match in Leeds.

Gambhir's sudden departure means he will miss the senior Indian side's intra-squad practice match against India A, which began on Friday in Kent. In his absence, batting coach Sitangshu Kotak and bowling coach Morne Morkel are likely to take charge of the team for the practice match.

This is Gambhir's first tour of England as the head coach of the Indian team, and his role is considered crucial, especially given the recent transitions within the team following the retirement of experienced players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. With Shubman Gill as captain, Gambhir is expected to play a key role in shaping the new-look Indian Test side and aiming to secure India's first Test series win on English soil since 2007, when Rahul Dravid led the team to victory.

Sources suggest that Gambhir was instrumental in the selection of the new-age Indian Test side under Shubman Gill. He reportedly emphasized the importance of creating a Test-match-like environment for the intra-squad match to ensure the players are well-prepared for the upcoming Test series.

Gambhir's absence during the practice match and the initial days of preparation for the Test series could pose a challenge for the team. However, his expected return before the first Test will be a significant boost for the squad. The team will be looking to him to provide guidance and strategic direction as they face a tough challenge against England in their home conditions.