Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as the India cricket team’s head coach hasn’t been great. It’s for the whole world to see. It’s been a record-breaking spree, especially in Test cricket. That issue is that the records that have been shattered aren’t the ones Gambhir would have liked to.
Gautam Gambhir overworked?
Since taking over, Team India’s 12-year home dominance in Test cricket is over. For the first time in history, India was whitewashed at home. Of course, Gambhir also lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as well after a decade. All of this has happened in under 6 months.
Monty Panesar, former England spinner, thinks the format may be too much to handle. “I think so. I think that’s a good option. I think maybe the workload is too much for Gambhir…He’s just transitioned into a coach,” Panesar told the Times of India.
Questions over Gambhir, the coach
The spinner questioned whether Gambhir’s credentials as a batter, who struggled in Australia and England, would come to haunt him back. He didn’t play well against movement and bounce; how exactly can he tell the likes of Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma to change things up?
“Sometimes it can be difficult for some of the senior players who actually will be thinking, ‘Well, I was his teammate a few years ago; now he’s telling us how to play cricket.’ It can be difficult, that transition, and also his record (as a batter) isn’t great in Australia or in England. He averages 23 in Australia. He doesn’t average well in England either. He didn’t play the moving ball very well,” Panesar added.
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VVS Laxman, India’s Test coach?
That is why the Ashes winner wants VVS Laxman to take over as the Test coach. Not only does he have an excellent record as a batter away from home, but he also warrants the respect of players. If he tells some to change their stance or technique, they’ll happily do it, which may not be the case with Gambhir.
“I think the selectors will be thinking, ‘Is Gambhir taking it seriously as a coach, or should we get him to just focus on ODIs and T20Is and maybe bring in someone like VVS Laxman, for example (as Test coach)? …Or bring him in as a batting coach to help Gambhir. He’s similar to Rahul Dravid. He’s been successful in all conditions,” said Panesar.
“I think you need some sort of Indian legend, who has done really well in all conditions, to come in as a coach, because then you naturally command that respect. If Laxman tells you, ‘You are not going to play the ball on the up when it is swinging,’ you listen, right? But with Gambhir, I’m not sure if they really take him seriously, or they’re just saying, ‘Okay, yeah, we’ll listen to him, but we’re going to go and play our natural game,'” Panesar concluded.
