AB de Villiers Critiques Gautam Gambhir's Coaching Style After India's Loss
In a recent discussion, AB de Villiers expressed concerns about Gautam Gambhir's emotional coaching style, suggesting it may not be ideal for the Indian cricket team. Following India's disappointing 0-2 series loss to South Africa, de Villiers highlighted the need for a balanced approach in leadership. He emphasized the importance of having a strong senior player group and shared insights on the coaching dynamics that can influence team performance. This conversation sheds light on the challenges faced by the Indian team and raises questions about Gambhir's future as head coach.
Nov 28, 2025, 19:56 IST
AB de Villiers Discusses Gautam Gambhir's Emotional Coaching Approach
Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers has labeled Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir as an emotional individual during their discussions, cautioning that such a coaching style may not be beneficial for a team. In a YouTube video, AB conversed with Indian cricket legend Ravichandran Ashwin. This conversation took place following India's 0-2 defeat in the home series against South Africa, marking their second consecutive home series loss, a scenario that Indian cricket has not faced in years, leading to a decline in their domestic dominance and the fading of their 'home bully' reputation.
De Villiers further indicated that this situation has sparked debates regarding Gambhir's future as head coach, especially after India lost two Test series at home, including a defeat to New Zealand last year, which was their first home loss in 12 years. During the chat on Ashwin's YouTube channel, AB remarked, "I’m not sure how GG is in terms of leadership. I know him as an emotional player, and if that’s the case in the dressing room, typically, having an emotional coach isn’t ideal. However, that doesn’t mean he isn’t the type of coach or behind-the-scenes leader. There’s no right or wrong here. Some players may feel comfortable with a former player, while others might prefer a coach who hasn’t played the game but has years of coaching experience like Gambhir."
Although AB has never played under Proteas coach Shukri Conrad or Indian coach Gambhir, he expressed admiration for their calm demeanor and their decision-making based on statistics and intuition. He stated, "I’ve never played under Shukri, nor have I been in the Indian dressing room with GG, Morne Morkel, or Ryan ten Doeschate. On paper, it sounds great, but I’m unsure about the dynamics behind the scenes. I can only say that it varies for each player. I enjoyed playing under Gary Kirsten, who is a former player like Gambhir. Some players might find confidence and comfort with a former great player, which can inspire them to contribute more to the team and the coach."
He continued, "Then there’s Shukri Conrad, who has a long track record of coaching domestic teams. He possesses considerable experience and is very calm. He generally makes decisions based on statistics and also listens to his instincts. He doesn’t remain indifferent about team selections and collaborates with players to help them progress. However, this can only be achieved if you have a strong group of senior players, including Kagiso Rabada, Temba Bavuma, and Aiden Markram."