Former Team Indian team's manager Lalchand Rajput recently commented on the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as Men in Blue's new head coach. Rajput expressed confidence that Gambhir would inspire the Men in Blue, drawing parallels to his successful stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Team India underwent a significant change in leadership following the T20 World Cup 2024, with Gautam Gambhir being appointed as the head coach for all three formats of the game. This appointment came after the end of Rahul Dravid's tenure, which concluded on a high note with India winning the tournament. Rajput's optimism reflects the high expectations from Gambhir's leadership and his potential to drive the team to new heights.
Known for his fierce character Gambhir will take over the role of Team India's head coach starting with the Sri Lanka tour. The Men in Blue are set to play a three-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series, beginning on July 27 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. Gambhir played a crucial role with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). As the team's mentor, he transformed their playing style and led them to win the title. His impactful guidance significantly changed the team's approach to cricket, ultimately helping them secure the championship.
Gautam Gambhir is passionate and hates losing: Lalchand Rajput
Rajput while discussing Gambhir's coaching style, described him as a very straightforward individual. Emphasising that India's coach has a strong aversion to losing, Rajput expressed hope that the former India skipper will instill this mindset in the players. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Rajput elaborated:
“Every coach has got a different style of functioning. Rahul was quiet, but Gambhir is a very straightforward person; he's passionate and hates losing. He will inculcate that among the players. You saw that in the KKR team, they came from nowhere to win convincingly. Hopefully, he would inspire the Indian team in the same way,” Lalchand said.
Lalchand Rajput expressed confidence that the team's dynamics would remain unaffected despite Suryakumar Yadav being named captain over Hardik Pandya. He emphasised that the success of this decision hinges on Suryakumar's ability to quickly build rapport with his teammates.
"I won't say the dressing room will be affected too much. Everyone knows that captaincy is always a board's call. The main thing is how quickly Suryakumar can gel and get the team to abide by his thoughts. That will take the team forward. The coach and the captain have to work together and drive the team forward," he concluded.
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