Gautam Gambhir's Coaching Journey: Insights from WV Raman

Gautam Gambhir's Coaching Challenges

Since taking over as head coach of the Indian Men's cricket team from Rahul Dravid, Gautam Gambhir has generated considerable discussion regarding his coaching style and the outcomes of his strategies. Although the Champions Trophy marked a challenging start for Gambhir, his methods continue to face examination. Former Indian cricketer WV Raman believes that Gambhir is receiving attention that his predecessors did not.

In an interview with a prominent news outlet, Raman mentioned that Shubman Gill will eventually establish his identity within the team. However, he emphasized the importance of allowing Gambhir to operate from the sidelines, with the players collaborating with him rather than solely working for him. Raman stated,

"It's not solely about the coach. While Gambhir is recognized as a skilled tactician and a passionate individual with the team's best interests at heart, we must remember that the focus shouldn't always be on him. This wasn't the case with his predecessors, yet it seems to be now. The coach's role is to remain in the background, enabling him to perform his duties effectively and make decisions based on his understanding of each player's situation."

Shubman Gill: A New Era?

Discussing Shubman Gill, Raman drew parallels to MS Dhoni, noting that Gill is leading a team without the burden of expectations. This mirrors the scenario when a young Dhoni captained the Indian team to victory in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. Raman believes that Gill should leverage this lack of pressure to play freely.

He pointed out that it will take time for the team to be recognized as Gill's, similar to how it took time for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to establish their teams. Raman remarked,

"This team will be identified by the success of its captain. People didn't refer to it as Rohit's team until he began achieving success in white-ball cricket, just as it was with Virat in red-ball cricket. A captain's team is only recognized as such when they consistently perform well over time."

He further added,

"Despite the uncertainties surrounding the series, I believe this team is in a similar position to Dhoni's squad during the first T20 World Cup. With no expectations, this is a significant advantage for them. They have everything to gain, and the only way is up."