Gautam Gambhir “Could Pick…”: India Coach’s Mentor Names Forgotten Pacer For Shock Name-up

Newly-appointed India head coach Gautam Gambhir has the power to derive one of the best out of gamers when the chips are down, and his affinity to take up challenges head on could make successful a behavior for the nationwide group, feels his childhood coach Sanjay Bharadwaj. Gambhir, the World Cup-winning former opener, was given the reins of the India group on Tuesday. He changed Rahul Dravid, whose tenure ended with the nation’s title win within the T20 World Cup in Barbados final month.

“Gautam has the quality to bring the best out of his players. The job of a top coach is precisely that. Gauti knows his players well and can bring the best out of them, using them effectively.

“I really feel, as a coach, he has the aptitude to take India to the head. He can do the job actually with none bias and convey one of the best to Indian cricket. The (ODI) World Cup title which has eluded us for the final 13 years would now begin coming,” Bhardwaj told PTI Videos on Wednesday.

Bharadwaj, who has also produced India cricketers such as Amit Mishra, Unmukt Chand and Nitish Rana besides several Ranji players from Delhi, added that Gambhir has the ability to take up any challenge and succeed in his endeavour.

“He all the time performed with a problem. Since he was 10, he had the winner’s mentality. He all the time performed to win. He by no means thought that he may lose a match. He was by no means doubtful.

“Gauti always had a sharp and astute observation power. Gautam has the ability to take up any challenge and then succeed in it,” the veteran coach mentioned about Gambhir, who performed a vital function in India lifting the ODI World Cup in 2011 below Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Bharadwaj added that Gambhir had predicted Rohit Sharma‘s resurgence when the India captain was going by way of a lean patch in his early days.

“He has played with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the past. Long back, he had once given his ‘Man of the Match’ to Virat. That shows his golden heart. He told me long back that Rohit Sharma will become a great player one day. This was when Rohit was not among the runs and needed some encouragement. His observation about Rohit proved accurate,” he mentioned.

Bharadwaj added that Gambhir would all the time persist with his choice if he feels it’s proper.

“If Gautam ever feels that something is right for the team, he will be firm on that decision. Gautam plays to win. He knows what to do and focusses on having a set team combination. He doesn’t believe in favouritism; the only thing that is his favourite is cricket.”

Bharadwaj mentioned Gambhir glided by instincts and backed Kuldeep Yadav and Navdeep Saini.

“He could pick players like Kuldeep Yadav and Navdeep Saini (in the India team setup). They are his product. He also followed his instincts on West Indian all-rounder Sunil Narine (during IPL 2024). His observation and cricketing acumen were always outstanding,” he added.

Gambhir has been part of two profitable World Cup campaigns — in T20 World Cup in 2007 and in ODI World Cup in 2011 –, and Bharadwaj’s recommendation to his ward is, “be honest in your approach”.

“With his batting, he won two World Cups for India in 2007 and 2011. As a player, you helped India win two World Cups, then propelled KKR to three IPL titles. You have a habit of taking up challenges and conquering them; be honest in your approach and repay the country’s faith in you,” he mentioned.