Following Gautam Gambhir's official appointment as Team India's head coach, his childhood coach Sanjay Bhardwaj disclosed that the 'true leader Gauti' has encountered numerous challenges in his life, stating, “usne khela bhi hai aur jhela bhi bohot hai.”
On Tuesday, July 9, the BCCI announced that the 2011 ODI World Cup winner Gambhir is the new head coach of the senior men's team.
Childhood coach on Gautam Gambhir's struggles
"As a player, he has won two World Cups, and as a leader, he will lead India to another world cup glory. A true leader brings out the best in their players," Bhardwaj told IANS.
"Gautam Gambhir 'ne khela bhi hai aur jhela bhi bohot hai (Gautam Gambhir has not only played the game but also faced numerous challenges). A man who has endured so much will ensure that no one else suffers," he added.
The Dronacharya awardee coach also talked about Gambhir's journey which saw the former India captain transitioning from a player to Member of Parliament and now the Team India's head coach.
"Gambhir endured challenges in every aspect of life, and those who face challenges have no doubts in their actions. He thrives in situations where challenges are prominent. Based on how he has tackled challenges in his life, he will excel in the future as well," Bhardwaj further added.
Commenting on how young players will perform under Gambhir's guidance, Bhardwaj expressed that Gambhir will not place unnecessary pressure on any player, allowing the youngsters the freedom to play without any doubts.
"Young players will get free hands to play without any doubt. He will not put unnecessary pressure on any player. He was the one who brought Umesh Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, and Navdeep Saini because he knew their qualities. If you can make Sunil Narine open, which was a big challenge... If this move had failed, then the people would have said that Gambhir has guessed. Whatever he does is best for the team. He fulfills the challenge he takes," he stated.
Addressing Gambhir's aggressive nature on the field, both as a player and a leader, Bhardwaj remarked that perceptions can be influenced by social media. He emphasized that Gambhir's heated exchanges were not without reason and often had specific contexts behind them. Bhardwaj noted that while Gambhir's demeanor might appear intense, it was driven by particular circumstances that necessitated such reactions. This perspective offers a deeper understanding of Gambhir's actions, suggesting that they were not merely for show but were responses to specific situations.
“Things appear in different ways on social media. Any of his heated arguments happened for some reason... This is a game where you will have to remain a fighter. You have to play for victory. If you don't always play for victory, you can't make the team win, and you can't be a good leader,” Bhardwaj concluded.
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