The Indian team may be winning trophies, but according to former India cricketer Atul Wassan, not everything is smooth inside the dressing room under head coach Gautam Gambhir.

In explosive remarks that are already sparking debate among fans, Wassan claimed that several players are struggling with Gambhir’s hardline style of management and intense personality, even though India continues to dominate white-ball cricket.

Speaking on Vickey Lalwani’s YouTube show, Wassan painted a picture of a high-pressure environment where success is masking internal discomfort.

“I am sure that all the players cannot be in a happy place. Somebody will be sleeping on needles,” Wassan said, suggesting that not everyone in the current setup feels secure or comfortable under Gambhir’s leadership.

He went even further while describing the former opener’s approach. According to Wassan, Gambhir’s strong personality and uncompromising methods work only as long as the team keeps winning.

“With personal likes and dislikes, and leading them with a stick, if you keep on winning, then it's fine. But if you lose, then you need to listen to criticism,” he said.

The conversation took a sharper turn when Wassan was asked directly whether he personally knew players who were unhappy in the Indian camp.

While he refused to reveal names, the former pacer hinted that a few cricketers had been sidelined.

“I know 1-2 of them; they won't say it openly. I can't say their names in this show. Everyone knows what's happening,” Wassan claimed, before adding that success has protected Gambhir from scrutiny so far.

The comments gain even more attention because of Wassan’s complicated history with Gambhir.

During his stint as a Delhi selector, Gambhir was removed as Delhi captain, a controversial episode that created friction between the two.

Gambhir took over as India's head coach on July 10, 2024, replacing Rahul Dravid.

Since then, India has enjoyed extraordinary success in white-ball cricket, winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Champions Trophy 2025 and Asia Cup 2025. However, the red-ball story has been far more turbulent.

India suffered shocking home Test series whitewashes against the New Zealand national cricket team and South Africa national cricket team, while also losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to the Australia national cricket team for the first time in a decade.

The period also saw massive transitions inside the squad. Ravichandran Ashwin retired from international cricket during the Australia Test series, while Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stepped away from Test cricket in May 2025. Rohit was later removed as ODI captain, with Shubman Gill taking charge.

Now, Wassan’s explosive remarks have once again pulled the curtain back on what may really be happening behind the scenes in Gambhir’s India.