Following Gautam Gambhir’s recent appointment as head coach of the national team, former India head coach Gary Kirsten has voiced reservations about Gambhir’s relationship with the current Indian players. Following the conclusion of Rahul Dravid’s term in June 2024, Gambhir assumed the position.
India’s path since his appointment has been uneventful. In January 2025, the team’s loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was a significant blow. But after winning the T20 World Cup, India recovered under Gautam Gambhir tutelage to win the Champions Trophy 2025, their second ICC championship in less than a year.
Kirsten, who was Gautam Gambhir coach when he was playing, considered the player’s character and whether his style is still relevant to today’s Indian cricket players.
“Well, I’ve never met the coach, Gautam Gambhir. I really adored the player, Gautam. He possesses a tenacity that is quite helpful. He seems incredibly strong to me. However, he has a distinct personality and sense of style. The key question is whether Indian players can relate to such personality and style. Kirsten said, “That’s really what it’s going to be about,” as reported by Indian Express.
In the IPL, he has achieved success. He was named the one-day captain against New Zealand prior to his arrival in South Africa, as I recall, when we divided the one-day and Test teams. And he performed admirably,” the former South Africa player continued.
Kirsten discussed his opinions on Gautam Gambhir, a vital member of that team, after leading India to victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup. The Delhi native was crucial to the Men in Blue’s most famous World Cup victory, producing a remarkable 97-run effort under extreme duress in the final against Sri Lanka in Mumbai.
India travels to Manchester for a crucial match.
India is currently behind 1-2 in the five-match series against England. In a thrilling conclusion to the third Test, India failed to chase a modest target of 193 runs, falling short by only 22 runs. The fourth Test is scheduled to start at Old Trafford in Manchester on July 23 as the series enters a pivotal phase. The visiting team will also have to forfeit the series if they lose. Shubman Gill & Co. will therefore be working to recover.
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