India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir is under the radar, as the team is currently giving a fight to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth. After disappointing series defeats to Sri Lanka and New Zealand, Gambhir’s role is always in the controversy. If India falters again, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may start exploring other coaching options for the longest format of the game. In between all these, India’s former head coach, Ravi Shastri gave some tips to the current coach Gautam Gambhir.
Shastri’s advice to Gambhir
Ahead of the crucial series, Ravi Shastri, who was an important figure in their historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory in Australia, offered important advice to Gambhir. Shastri urged him to stay untouched by external pressures and avoid making impulsive decisions.
“I think the first thing would be to be calm, you know, don’t let outside elements influence you in any way. Because of that, don’t get into a position where knee-jerk reactions happen. Get to understand your players. You will see them in bad situations, you’ll see them in India, you’ll see them overseas, you know, you will notice what it takes for a player to click. You will understand situations of a team where a certain player might be better than the other,” Shastri said during a discussion on Star Sports.
The Importance of understanding players
Shastri stressed the need for Gambhir to truly understand each player in the team. He reflected on his own experiences as a coach, noting how time and observation helped him connect with players and identify their potential.
“It took me some time to understand everyone. He might have seen them from the outside of the IPL, and he might have sat with a few players in the dressing room when he played the game, but there are a lot of other players, and they come from different mindsets, different cultures, and different parts of the country. And for you to dig deep and understand their mindsets would be the most important thing,” Shastri said.
He also highlighted the need to nurture even the most reserved players: “There could be a player, you know, who’s an introvert, but actually, if you push him out there and give him the confidence, he could be a match-winner for you,” Shastri concluded.
An important moment for Gambhir
As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins, all eyes will be on Gambhir. His ability to implement Shastri’s advice and steer India to success could determine his future as head coach.
