Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir during a practice session at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, in Pallekele. (PTI)
Gautam Gambhir’s first tour of Sri Lanka as a coach did not live up to the hype. Last month, when the BCCI announced Gambhir as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team, the excitement and speculation within the cricketing fraternity was as much a function of Gambhir’s career trajectory and his evolution as a player, leader and mentor as it was of the legacy left behind by the self-effacing Rahul Dravid, who finished on a high that most sportspeople can only dream of.
Gambhir’s record as a captain of IPL teams is more than merely impressive. He has captained the fourth-highest number of IPL matches (129 — behind MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) and also has the third-highest number of IPL titles to his name, behind Dhoni’s and Sharma’s five each. Gambhir holds another distinction — having won the title for KKR as a coach-mentor (2024) in addition to his victories as captain (2012, 2014) — a feat that only the great Shane Warne had previously achieved as both captain and coach of Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural IPL in 2008. This likely helped seal Gambhir’s case in his favour for his current role.
The shine of Gambhir’s stardom may have been dulled by the brighter stars around him, but some of his achievements remain unmatched even by Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Gambhir is the only Indian, and one of only four cricketers, to have scored hundreds in five consecutive Tests. He is also the only Indian batter to have scored over 300 runs in four consecutive Test series. Additionally, he ranks as the 12th-highest run-scorer for India in T20 Internationals. Gambhir reached the pinnacle in 2009 when he was ranked as the number one batsman in the ICC Test rankings (with Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid being the only other Indians to have achieved this before him). That same year, he also won the ICC Test Player of the Year award.
As the new head coach in charge of a team that, arguably, is in a rebuilding phase, Gambhir will be expected to manage the generational transition in the dressing room. Gambhir is expected to nurture young talent and create an environment that enables them to flourish without the accompanying pressures. Known for his intensity on the field during his playing days — especially his well-known public spats with Shahid Afridi and Virat Kohli — he continues to wear his heart on his sleeve as a coach.
Much has already been said about Gambhir eschewing the stardom of a few in favour of fostering egalitarianism within the dressing room. Who could possibly argue against that? The reality, however, is far more nuanced. This is where you cannot help but get a feeling of déjà vu. Despite the best of intentions, Greg Chappell, as India’s coach, learned the hard way that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The cricket fraternity will never forget the incalculable damage done by Chappell — the seeds of disunity and doubt splintering one of the most talented Indian sides.
Stars in Indian cricket are a reality unlikely to fade anytime soon. They are very much part of the fabric of the game, as Indian cricket without superstars would be akin to the parallel or art cinema of the 1980s — critically acclaimed but largely unappreciated by the masses and financially unrewarding. Every generation of cricketing stars has inspired a generation of cricket fanatics. Sunil Gavaskar inspired Sachin Tendulkar, who in turn sparked the rise of Virat Kohli and a whole legion of other cricketers. Shubman Gill drew inspiration from Kohli and MS Dhoni, and today, Gill is arguably the inspiration for the thousands of budding young cricketers.
Gambhir also recently stepped down from another leadership role — as the MP representing East Delhi in the 17th Lok Sabha. His record as an MP, however, is anything but enviable. His overall attendance averaged 61 per cent, compared to the national average of 79 per cent. He participated in only three debates, while the average for MPs was over 46. Indian cricket and politics are joined at the hip — Gambhir has already had the rude awakening that, as head coach, he does not enjoy unfettered power. Five of his preferred support staff choices were initially rejected by the same board that appointed him. While he may have navigated the complex vagaries of Indian cricket officialdom for now, he will likely find that being the head coach of the Indian cricket team is no less challenging than being a parliamentarian.
Having easily wrapped up the T20I series in Sri Lanka, Gambhir’s opening campaign as India head coach took a sharp turn when the team went on its first ODI series loss to Sri Lanka in 27 years. In fact, India capitulated in under 27 overs in the final match of the three-match series, winning none. India is set to play at home two Tests and three ODIs against Bangladesh, followed by a three-Test series against New Zealand, before heading to Australia in November for a gruelling five-Test series. This should give Gambhir enough of a runway to settle into his new role. His tactical acumen and mental toughness notwithstanding, he will be on probation until he guides the team to some overseas tour wins. A Test series win in Australia will validate him like nothing else can. It will also be a test of his character. Until then, the jury is still out. Gautam Gambhir knows better than anyone else that Indian cricket fans are fickle, demanding and quite unforgiving.
The writer is with the Adani Group.
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