Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Why does Gautam Gambhir come across as abrasive at times

Ironically, Ponting’s comments about Kohli were actually supportive. He had said how special players like Kohli will deservingly get a long rope despite just three hundreds in five years. Ponting had said that as a former player and he is entitled to say what he feels about players from any country. But context and nuance can be lost in the heat of the moment with Gambhir.

🗣️ We are absolutely keen to go out there, perform, and try and win the series

Head Coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of #TeamIndia‘s departure to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.#AUSvIND | @GautamGambhir pic.twitter.com/MabCwkSPGL

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 11, 2024

There was another slightly iffy moment in the conference, when he was asked whether Reddy can do the all-rounder’s job like Shardul Thakur. Gambhir rightly talked up the youngster’s potential, but added that it was “about moving forward”, indicating that Indian cricket wanted to move on from Shardul, who incidentally is a year younger than Mohammed Shami. Coaches usually don’t say such things about a 33-year old. They generally murmur something about how age isn’t an issue as long as performance continues, but Gambhir doesn’t murmur niceties.

It was perhaps a question about what he said to the youngsters in the aftermath of the whitewash suffered at the hands of New Zealand that revealed what the head coach really thought about the team’s performance and what he expects.

“The only conversation I’ve had with seniors, experienced players or the youngsters is to keep Indian cricket ahead of every other thing. To keep the team ahead of their personal milestones,” the 43-year-old said. “That is how team sport is meant to be played. I’m sure that is something that will continue to happen in the future as well. We will keep having the same conversation.”

“It’s about the ‘Team First’ ideology and philosophy as compared to any other thing. And the smallest of things will make a huge difference. When you start talking about, thinking about the team. Be it a spell where you have to be boring at times. Be it that unbelievable catch or playing (out) a session,” Gambhir elaborated.

#TeamIndia head coach @GautamGambhir has clear expectations from not just @ImRo45 or @imVkohli, but from the entire team! 💪

Less than 2 weeks to go for the #ToughestRivalry 👉#BorderGavaskarTrophy! Excited? ✍️👇

📺 Don’t miss #AUSvINDonStar 👉 1st Test starts on FRI 22 NOV, 7… pic.twitter.com/omjZC1sMDB

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 11, 2024

Practise what you preach

It’s exactly in those areas that this Indian team seemed to have got ahead of itself. Be it Rohit, who seemed intent on being too aggressive, or youngster Sarfaraz Khan’s shot selection, or the top-order’s general reluctance to grit it out and choosing attack as the option in every circumstance. The same goes for the bowlers, probably the spinners who didn’t quite have the patience to stick to attacking a line for too long.

That Gambhir is aware isn’t surprising. That he has spoken to them about the qualities needed bodes well. That he has shared it publicly is also probably his way of leading as he has done the same in the past with the Kolkata Knight Riders. How some of the Indian players take that ‘sharing’ remains to be seen.

“When you start thinking about the team ahead of everything else, all other things can take a backseat. And that is something which we will keep talking to the youngsters and everyone in the dressing room,” Gambhir said.

But for the most part, he actually stood up for his players. He didn’t take a moment to shoot down a question about Rohit’s batting in Tests. “I have no concerns whatsoever for Rohit and Virat,” he said. “I think they are incredibly tough men and have achieved a lot for Indian cricket and will continue to do so. My role is to ensure that their hunger is still there and they continue to work really hard.”

Very few batters can adapt to any batting position, and @klrahul is one of them 🫡

🗣 Head Coach @GautamGambhir backs #KLRahul as a reliable team man and potential opener in the 1st Test 🙌🏼

📺 Don’t miss 👉 #AUSvINDonStar, 1st Test starts FRI 22 NOV, 7 AM on Star Sport pic.twitter.com/1vfP57G3Ge

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 11, 2024

Or the rave for KL Rahul, who had on his comeback auditioned for a middle-order role but could now be a back-up opener. Gambhir put it down to his versatility. “That is the quality of the man. That he can actually bat at the top of the order. He can bat at No 3. And he can actually bat at No 6 as well. So, you need quite a lot of talent to be doing these kinds of jobs as well. He’s kept wickets in the one-day format as well. So, imagine how many countries have players like KL who can actually open the batting and can bat at No 6 as well? I feel that if need be, he can do the job for us. Especially if Rohit is not available for the first Test.”

Gambhir also mentioned Abhimanyu Easwaran a couple of times at least.

Combative style

The raves, the support and the jabs are all part of the Gambhir persona. If there is an easy graceful way out of a tricky situation, Gambhir isn’t likely to take it. Be it his comments about MS Dhoni in the past, or altercations with the crowd – leave alone players on the field – or his political life that seems to have further hardened his jabbing trait. To expect him to ease up is probably futile. He is a person who can criticise Sourav Ganguly for endorsing an online fantasy game as BCCI president, but can do it himself as he sees a difference in it. Ganguly’s promised cash, his didn’t.

“I do endorse fantasy (games). I was also very clear that we had this apprehension at one point in time about whether we should or not. Fantasy and betting are probably a little similar, but not exactly the same. When I spoke to the owner of the fantasy game I endorse, I asked if they pay back in cash. He said no, we don’t pay back in cash. There are only gifts and hampers involved,” he had said.

Once in an interview with this newspaper, a question about Dhoni had popped up. Around that time, Gambhir would constantly say how it’s not the captain but the team, and how a captain is only as good as the team. Perfectly valid comments, but these would invariably be said in response to questions on Dhoni.

Toughest challenge in the #ToughestRivalry? 🤔

🗣 Watch Head Coach @GautamGambhir address #TeamIndia‘s biggest challenge ahead of the #BorderGavaskarTrophy! 👀

📺 Watch #AUSvINDonStar 👉 1st Test starts on FRI, 22 NOV, 7 AM, on Star Sports 1! pic.twitter.com/4PYW6C6QiZ

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 11, 2024

So, when he was asked why he doesn’t take the easy way out and handle it tactfully, Gambhir said “But what I said is true. Why not say it just because some fans don’t like it?”

In the same breath, he actually praised Dhoni, talked about how he was selfless in sacrificing international runs and demoting himself despite being the captain. “Else he could have been a great No 3 batsman for India.”

He also talked about how Dhoni was “the most successful captain India has had. No one has won three ICC trophies”.

It’s this constant living on the edge between frankness and gracelessness, jabbing when most would side-step certain issues, that’s the Gambhir way.