What’s exactly going wrong? How have India’s Test fortunes at home changed so drastically? For a team that lost just 3 matches at home over a span of 12 years, what’s happened that India has lost 5 matches at home in 12 months?
There’s a lot to unpack. There are questions over some of the batter’s talent and temperament. The bowlers aren’t performing like they used to. But for the general public, the biggest culprit seems to be Gautam Gambhir.
The Indian head coach has talked a big game. Before and after assuming the role. Some blame him for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli‘s retirements. There’s a lot going on. It’s fair to assume Gambhir gets a lot of unwarranted criticism.
Gautam Gambhir, an emotional coach?
But are there actual concerns over his coaching method? South African legend AB de Villiers has indirectly suggested so. In a chat with Ravichandran Ashwin, the 360-degree batter remembered Gambhir as an ’emotional player’.
“I don’t know what GG is like when it comes to leadership. I’ve known him as an emotional player, and if that is the case in the change room, generally an emotional coach is not a good thing to have,” ABD said.
He went on to say that it’s not great to have an emotional coach. Since ABD hasn’t worked with Gambhir, he stated he doesn’t exactly know what his methods as a coach are, but the picture he painted tells it all.
“It’s not to say he’s that kind of a coach behind the scenes. There’s no right and wrong. Some players feel comfortable with a former player, some with someone who’s never played but has years of coaching experience,” he added.
Apart from Gambhir, India also has well-respected former international cricketers Morne Morkel and Ryan ten Doeschate as coaches. Whether that has been working for India or not is another thing, but ABD thinks having former pros helps some players.
“I absolutely loved playing under Gary Kirsten; he’s a former player and similar to Gambhir. Some players find confidence with a former great being there—someone who inspires you to put in extra yards,” AB concluded.
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