India head coach Gautam Gambhir has faced criticism from all corners after the team’s dismal performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Gambhir’s methods of running the team and picking the players have come under scrutiny.
Recently, he has received support from the legendary allrounder Kapil Dev. Kapil feels that it is the captain and the team’s responsibility to do well on the field and the coach doesn’t have much role in it.
The former India allrounder also compared Gambhir’s way of working with that of Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid. He believes that every coach has his own way of working which he tries to implement during his tenure.
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Kapil Dev defends Gautam Gambhir
While speaking to Gulf News, Kapil Dev opened up on Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach so far. Kapil reckons that the coaches are not for what happens on the field as the captain and the team are involved in it mostly.
“The expectations are high. The coaches are not on the field, but the captain and the team are on the ground. A new coach will come out with his own ideas and hope it will serve the country in a better sense. If he’s not, then people will raise their finger,” Kapil noted.
India’s performance in the Test series against Australia was far from satisfactory. The batters failed badly against the world-class Australian bowling attack while the bowling looked inexperienced apart from Jasprit Bumrah, who was the leading wicket-taker of the series.
Kapil Dev compares Gautam Gambhir with Rahul Dravid, Ravi Shastri
Kapil Dev further compared Gautam Gambhir’s way of coaching with the methods of former India coaches Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid. Kapil believes that Gambhir is a temperamental person and has his own ways of dealing with certain things.
“(Gautam) Gambhir is a slightly temperamental person. He’s different from Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid. Every coach has his own way of thinking, so let’s hope he will do better for the country,” Kapil added.
Ravi Shastri is known as a great motivator and India reached several heights under his tenure. With Shastri as head coach, India won two Test series in Australia which is no mean feat.
Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid is a man who likes to handle things calmly. Dravid liked keeping things under control and followed a process to run a team. In his tenure, India won the T20 World Cup 2024 and also finished as the runners-up of the ODI World Cup 2023.
Gautam Gambhir’s tenure so far
Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach hasn’t been smooth so far. The Men in Blue lost an ODI series in Sri Lanka after a gap of 27 years. A few months ago, India lost a Test series to New Zealand by a 0-3 margin.
It was India’s first Test series defeat at home in 12 years and it brought an end to an incredible run. After the series against New Zealand, India lost to Australia in the away Test series even after winning the first Test.
