“Gautam Gambhir won’t last as India coach”, says T20 World Cup winner
Gautam Gambhir’s new role as the head coach of the Indian cricket team began with a bang. The Men in Blue, led by their new captain Suryakumar Yadav, achieved a clean sweep against Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series. Meanwhile, ex-India cricketer and winner of the T20 World Cup, Joginder Sharma thinks that Gambhir will not last long as team India’s head coach.
Gautam Gambhir is appointed as the head coach following Dravid’s decision not to continue after the T20 World Cup 2024. His appointment came swiftly, especially after his successful stint as a mentor with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Under his mentorship, KKR clinched their third IPL title, highlighting his effectiveness in leadership roles.
Also Read: IND vs SL: Major setback for SriLanka as Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of the series
Despite this promising beginning, not everyone is convinced that Gambhir will maintain his position as head coach for the long term. Former India cricketer and T20 World Cup 2007 hero Joginder Sharma has expressed doubts about Gambhir’s future in the role. Sharma, who is often remembered for his pivotal over in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup victory, shared his concerns during a podcast with Shubhankar Mishra.
According to Sharma, “Gautam Gambhir team ko sambhalne waala hai lekin par mera ye manna hai ki Gautam Gambhir jyada lambe samay tak tik nahi payega (Gautam Gambhir is the one to manage the team, but I believe that Gautam Gambhir will not be able to stay for a long time).” Sharma elaborated that Gambhir’s decision-making could lead to conflicts with players, although he specified that he was not referring to Virat Kohli.
View this post on Instagram
Sharma pointed out that Gambhir’s decisions are often controversial, stating, “Kyunki Gautam Gambhir ke apne hi kuch faisle hote hain. Ho sakta hai kisi player se man motaaw ho jaye. Mai Virat Kohli ki baat nahi kar raha hun. Gautam Gambhir ke faisle kai baar aise ho jaate hain ki dusro ko pasand nahi aate (This is because Gautam Gambhir has his own decisions. It might happen that he has a disagreement with a player. I am not talking about Virat Kohli. Many times, Gautam Gambhir’s decisions are such that others do not like them).”
On the other hand, Sharma acknowledged Gambhir’s straightforward approach and honesty, saying, “Gautam Gambhir seedhi baat karne waala hai. Wo kisi ke paas jaane waala nahi hai. Gautam Gambhir chaplusi karne waala banda nahi hai. Usko credit dene waale hum log hain. Wo apna kaam karta hai, sacche dil se karta hai, badi imaandaari se karta hai (Gambhir speaks directly. He is not someone who will go to anyone. Gautam Gambhir is not a person who flatters. We are the ones who give him credit. He does his work, does it sincerely, and does it with great honesty).”
Despite the concerns raised by Joginder Sharma, Gambhir’s initial success with Team India is notable. After India’s series win against Sri Lanka, Gambhir praised the team for their tenacity, particularly highlighting their Super Over victory in the low-scoring third T20I that secured the whitewash.
