Veteran Bangladesh batter Tamim Iqbal believes it’s too soon to evaluate Gautam Gambhir’s time as head coach of Team India. Gambhir started his tenure with a tour of Sri Lanka, where the team won the T20I series but lost the ODIs.
His intense personality and past conflicts with Virat Kohli raised some concerns among fans and analysts. However, he has integrated well with the team, facilitating a smooth transition from Rahul Dravid and his staff. Team India all-rounder Axar Patel commended the positive environment Gambhir has fostered since taking charge of the successful squad.
“You can get carried away because India got success under Rahul Dravid and Ravi Shastri. And there’s a chance that you don’t want to change. But at the same time, it’s important that you bring your own way.”
”And the stories coming out of the dressing room are that people are relaxed, and there’s an intent of winning Test matches,” Patel told JioCinema ahead of the second Test against Bangladesh.
Tamim Iqbal expressed confidence in Gambhir’s coaching abilities, noting that the recent IPL title is proof of his credentials. However, the Bangladesh international did voice concerns about how Gambhir might respond if things don’t go his way.
“When you’re winning, you don’t know the real character of the man. It’s only when you lose a series, then you lose another, that the real character comes out. No doubt, he is a capable man, but it’s too early. Let India have a bad game, then we will see what comes out,” Tamim Iqbal said on Jio Cinema.
Gambhir maintained a diplomatic demeanor following a disappointing 0-2 ODI series loss to Sri Lanka away from home. Since his tenure began, he hasn’t had much to worry about in Test cricket, starting with a commanding 280-run victory over Bangladesh in Chennai.
Inevitable challenges await Gautam Gambhir in his role as Team India coach
Gambhir steps in to lead a successful team coming off an ICC title win, with his main challenge being to maintain consistency and ensure a smooth transition. India has a series of tough assignments ahead, including a home Test series against New Zealand, the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia, and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The team has a chance to achieve their first red-ball series win under Gambhir after taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match home series against Bangladesh.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
