Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir was appointed as the head coach of the Indian team on July 9, taking over from Rahul Dravid. Gambhir recently guided the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title in 2024, adding to his legacy as a leader who previously captained them to titles in 2012 and 2014.
His appointment sparked mixed reactions, but seasoned commentator Harsha Bhogle views Gambhir as a “highly misunderstood” figure. Gautam Gambhir’s aggressive on-field demeanour, often marked by intense confrontations—including his well-known clashes with former teammate Virat Kohli—has made him a polarizing figure in cricket.
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However, Harsha Bhogle highlighted Gambhir’s impressive track record as a leader in Indian cricket. “I think Gautam Gambhir is a slightly misunderstood person because of his body language; because he seems brazen; because he seems to want to get into a fight all the time,” Bhogle remarked.
👏 “Gautam Gambhir is a slightly misunderstood person. His record in India is actually very good.”
✅ “There’s a people person behind Gautam Gambhir.”@bhogleharsha discusses what the new Head Coach will bring to #TeamIndia 🏏
📺 WATCH: https://t.co/BHZfOox1Fo pic.twitter.com/CoCnCkxZn3
— talkSPORT Cricket (@Cricket_TS) September 18, 2024
Harsha Bhogle explained, “But his record in India as a leader is very good, and the people who played under him really look up to him. There’s a people’s person behind Gambhir, which will be tested not as much here in India, but when it comes to five [Tests] in Australia and five in England.”
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Gambhir’s first task as coach was the white-ball tour to Sri Lanka. India clinched the T20I series 3-0, but the ODIs didn’t go as planned, ending in a 2-1 loss. Despite moments of brilliance, including India’s regular batters stepping up to bowl in the first ODI, the defeats left fans and critics with a lot to ponder. Now, after a month-long break, Gambhir’s next challenge looms as India hosts Bangladesh in a two-match Test series starting September 19 in Chennai.
