Even though it been widely broadcasted that former Indian opener Gambhir is the new India coach, and an official announcement of the team’s new coach replacing Rahul Dravid might take a few more days to come out yet some experts are not in doubt that Gambhir is one character with fire inside him who can steer Indian team to great heights.
Gambhir has had notable achievements like when he took over as Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) mentor just before IPL 2024 and was instrumental in KKR’s third triumph in the T20 league. This was only an added feature to his credentials as a mentor seeing he took Lucknow Super Giants to playoffs in successive years before joining KKR in a similar capacity. “What a record he has had as a coach!” said Dinesh Karthik on Cricbuzz, who retired from cricket after IPL 2024. “Being a mentor for LSG, two years on the bounce qualifying (for playoffs), comes to KKR and they say, ‘Please, you got to do something special for us’. Ends up winning the trophy.”
It was effectively Gambhir’s third IPL title in KKR colours. When the team won its two titles in 2012 and 2014, Gambhir was the skipper of KKR.
“He has been at the helm, taken all the decisions (for KKR), be it sending (Sunil) Narine opening or getting Mitchell Starc in the auction — in all of those big recruits and getting the right team, the right balance, and then taking all the shots,” Karthik said who had been with KKR earlier also during IPLs
“I am seeing this on news that even he could be part of our national team (chief coach) as well and I really wish he does. He has that fire.” concluded Gautam Gambhir.
This player cum coach/mentor track record shows that Gambhir understands what it takes to win big tournaments. Additionally Gambhir won three IPL titles with KKR, was a part of the team under Dhoni when India won 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup.
Karthik thinks that Gambhir has placed things so well at KKR that even if he quits and takes over the role of India’s head coach, KKR would still be in good position to perform excellently in the next IPL season.
“I think he has really built a good (KKR) team, one that will have a lot of players retained and he has left them in a very, very good place. And if he gets the opporunity (India coach), I really wish he takes it. Being part of the national team and the patriotism that he has, I think he will definitely be tempted to take it and I really wish he comes in because he will infuse that winning culture he has infused here (at KKR),” reckoned Gautam Gambhir.
“Under him India will do well because I feel this is somebody who has got fire in his belly.”
KKR will take him back with open arms every time he returns (after stint as India coach). However, I think that he has left Shreyas Iyer and the team in a much better place than it was when he took it (mentorship role).
Simon Doul talked on Cricbuzz alongside other panelists. He fully agreed with Karthik’s opinion.
“That is the sort of person you want at your helm – massively respected, uncompromising. He has got a hard edge to him but I think he is a very fair individual and if he took over, if he accepted that role, I think he would do an exceptional job,” Doull stated.
The tenure for current Indian Coach Rahul Dravid will end after the T20 World Cup in June.
