India's ace spinner R Ashwin expressed his enthusiasm about the newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir. Ashwin highlighted their strong relationship and expressed immense respect for Gambhir's diverse roles within Indian cricket.
Gautam Gambhir is a hero of Indian cricket: R Ashwin
Gambhir assumed the role of head coach of the senior national men's cricket team after the T20 World Cup, succeeding Rahul Dravid. Gambhir's initial assignment as coach included overseeing India's T20I series victory and a rare ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka. A challenging period lies ahead for Gambhir as India prepares for a grueling schedule of 10 Test matches in the remaining portion of the World Test Championship cycle.
"Gautam is someone I still share a very, very good relationship with because he is a very straightforward and honest guy. I think Gautam is also one of those guys that we should always be backing. He's a hero of Indian cricket," Ashwin said in an interaction with PTI news agency.
R Ashwin will be a crucial asset for India's Test team during the upcoming season. The off-spinner will relish the opportunity to challenge visiting batters. Bangladesh will tour India for a two-Test series and three T20Is in September-October. Following that, India will host New Zealand for a three-Test series, beginning on October 16. The highlight of the season will be India's tour of Australia for the unprecedented five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scheduled from November to January. Ashwin will be eager to make a significant impact in the home Tests and secure a place in the Indian XI for the challenging Australian tour.
R Ashwin shares a strong bond with Gambhir, having played alongside him in 66 matches, including 16 Tests. Gambhir has frequently praised Ashwin's invaluable contributions to Indian cricket. Having led Dindigul Dragons to victory in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, Ashwin emphasized the significance of inspiring young players to aspire to represent the senior national team.
"I am very glad that a lot of young kids are coming now and making a good amount of money. It is changing their livelihood, changing the status of their families. It's unbelievable for India, for the Indian cricketing ecosystem. But I still feel there must be some incentive and some motivation for all these kids to want to play for India, and that's absolutely in the hands of the stakeholders and the decision-makers," Ashwin concluded.
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