Gautam Gambhir has had a rich tenure as the head coach of the Indian team so far. He has been criticized left, right and center for his role as Test coach due to India’s under-performance in two consecutive domestic seasons. Although he has fared better in white ball formats, some of his calls have stirred the pot.
Responding to criticism of Gambhir as India’s head coach, Yuvraj said the left-hander had a sharp cricketing brain from his playing days and it is no surprise that he is doing well in ODI and T20I cricket. Yuvraj added that Gambhir is criticized because of the position he occupies where the control is magnified manifold.
“I played with Gautam from the age of 16 to 19 and I always felt that he had a very good cricketing mind. The way he sees the game has always stood out,” said Yuvraj.
“He performed at the highest level and played a major role in winning two World Cups. Then as a mentor with Kolkata Knight Riders, he won titles again. He must be doing something right,” added Yuvraj.
Gautam Gambhir won the ICC Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup. His team defeated New Zealand in both finals, marking a period of dominance for the Indian side. Gambhir said that by the end of the 2026 Indian Premier League, he will have a plan in place for the 2027 ODI World Cup, a tournament that India lost at home in 2023.
“When you become the coach of India, there are too many eyes on you. One mistake will be shown 100 times, one success 1000 times,” he said.
CREDIT GAMBHIR FOR FOLLOWING HIS PROCESS
Crediting Gautam Gambhir for sticking to his approach during the T20 World Cup, Yuvraj said the head coach trusted his methods even when the desired results were not forthcoming during the group stage.
Yuvraj was referring to the batting struggles India faced in the group stage and Super 8s, where they were unable to play free-flowing cricket.
“He went through that phase but he stuck to his process. That is what led India to the World Cup triumph. Now he is back at a high level. There will always be ups and downs in cricket.”
“He was clear. We have to play this brand of cricket even if there are setbacks. We go after you from the first ball. If it is to hit, players like Abhishek or Sanju will go for it from the first ball,” he explained.
Gautam Gambhir is currently enjoying a break after a tough international season. According to the head coach, he will sit with the selectors and the rest of his team to work out a plan for India’s 2027 ODI World Cup.
Gambhir will have big challenges, considering the age of seniors Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The pair have batted well in the IPL this season and it will be interesting to see if they remain automatic selections for the World Cup.
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
03 Apr 2026 21:51 IST
