Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday praised Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, describing his role as the “toughest job in India after being the prime minister”.
The Member of Parliament (MP) met the former India batsman in Nagpur ahead of the first T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand at the New VCA Stadium in Jamtha.
Sharing a photo of their meeting on social media platform X, Tharoor highlighted the immense scrutiny that comes with leading the Indian cricket team. He also called Gambhir his old friend. Gambhir was also a Member of Parliament (MP) representing the BJP from the East Delhi seat in the Lok Sabha from 2019 to 2024.
“In Nagpur I enjoyed a good and frank discussion with my old friend Gautam Gambhir, the man with the hardest job in India after the Prime Minister!” Tharoor wrote in his post.
Gambhir, was appointed as India’s head coach in July 2024 for three years until the 2027 ODI Cricket World Cup.
Acknowledging the constant pressure faced by the former India opener, the Kerala MP, who is an avid cricket fan, said that as the coach of the Indian cricket team, Gambhir was subjected to relentless public scrutiny on a daily basis.
“He is estimated by millions of people daily but he remains calm and walks on steadfastly,” Tharoor said, praising Gambhir’s calm demeanor while handling the pressure.
The T20 series against New Zealand starts today
The five-match T20 series against New Zealand will be crucial for Team India’s preparation ahead of the upcoming FIFA T20 World Cup 2026 starting on February 7.
India will enter the tournament as the defending champions. The team won the trophy in 2024 and if they win another title in 2026, the Men in Blue will become the first team to win T20 World Cup titles.
New Zealand are playing in the T20 series after winning their first ODI series in India, beating the hosts 2-1.
He is second-guessed by millions of people daily, but he remains calm and steadfastly marches on.
Tharoor also praised Gambhir’s leadership style, describing him as quietly determined and effective, and wished him success as India begin a crucial phase in their white-ball calendar.
“A word of appreciation for his quiet determination and able leadership. I wish him every success from today,” Tharoor added.
Tharoor often expresses his opinion on cricketing issues. Earlier this month he said that cricket should not fall victim to the “delicate diplomatic and political relations” between India and Bangladesh.
Tharoor’s remarks came against a backdrop of tension between the two cricketing nations over reports of violence against Hindus and the BCCI’s move to Knight Riders of Calcutta (KKR) to drop Bangladesh cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL).
