He never hesitates to take on his critics. Time and again, he has taken swipes hurled at him to the cleaners, but the diminutive former southpaw is on a sticky wicket.
An abysmal Test record as a coach is a blot on his decorated career as a player at the international level.
Gautam Gambhir’s credibility as the Head Coach of the Indian Test team is on the brink. And you never know, maybe his tenure too.
Calls for his ouster have gained momentum, with social media playing a leading role. Log on and you will be greeted with scorn directed at Guru Gambhir.
Trailing 1-2 in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against a charged-up English side, Gambhir’s boys, having been pushed to the wall, are staring at another defeat in the fourth Test unless his batters endure a bellicose English attack to enforce a draw on the final day at Old Trafford.
Accept criticism, Guru Gambhir
A few years back, one recalls the viral video where Gambhir chastised ex-Indian coach Ravi Shastri as a non-achiever.
Accepted, Gambhir played two unforgettable knocks in the 2007 T20I and 2011 ODI World Cup finals on a winning cause. But demeaning a fighter like Shastri, whose tenacity more often overshadowed his limited skills, is uncalled for.
Gambhir has made it a habit of crossing swords with current and former cricketers, often getting into verbal spats not befitting his status as a two-time World Cup winner.
Gambhir has to take criticism in his stride and let his actions as a coach do the talking. If he, as an expert, had the freedom to lambast people in charge, he needs to accept the same, now that he has stepped into their shoes.
It’s no IPL, Mr. Gambhir!
True, as a leader, he emerged as a messiah to lead the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to Indian Premier League (IPL) victories twice and later mentored the side to cross the finishing line in 2024, but as a coach at the highest level of the game, he’s found wanting at least in Test cricket.
Gambhir loyalists or sycophants would grab the Champions Trophy laurels to showcase his milestones. And add to it, some of his series wins in ODIs and T20Is to justify his impact on the team, but deep down, even they would agree that the gritty former opener is finding it tough.
Let’s put this straight – abysmal figures in the longest version of the game are horrific.
Handling a mix of local and international players in club cricket and facing the rigours of the game at the highest level are not two sides of the same coin, something Gambhir must have realised by now.
Can Gambhir crib?
Didn’t Gambhir get everything that he wanted? Support staff, bending of rules to instil discipline and so on, he got what he wanted.
Yet, despite having his way, including the ignominious exits of stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after the mishap Down Under, where is the performance to back his demands?
Gambhir’s stooges may pass the buck to the players on the field, but that doesn’t absolve the coach of the responsibility.
If Gambhir had issues with some seniors, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has put its bet on him, but to no avail as of now.
Greg Chappell 2.0
Gambhir’s way of functioning does have similarities with that of ex-Indian coach Greg Chappell, alias Guru Greg!
Chosen with a lot of fanfare, the stubborn Aussie, in a bid to revolutionise Indian cricket, stirred too many pots, eventually falling out with seniors, including the then skipper Sourav Ganguly and later Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and others.
Chappell’s high-handedness and frequent tiffs with experienced players made for juicy headlines, but it was Indian cricket which had to bear the brunt.
Like Gambhir, Chappell too was given a free run, but his arrogance and obstinacy did him in.
Gambhir’s grit is not reflected on performance
Patriotism runs in Gambhir’s veins, and he dares to look into the eyes of his opponents, but at the end of the day, it’s the results that matter.
If Gambhir had ego problems with the likes of Rohit and Virat, he has had the last laugh. He now coaches a young skipper in Shubman Gill, who is taking baby steps as a leader.
Even a non-cricketing fan would be aware that it is Gambhir who calls the shots. So be brave enough to face the flak, Guruji!
True, his success story in white-ball cricket is worth kudos, but he hasn’t been able to replicate it in the five-day version, much to the chagrin of experts and fans alike.
Three consecutive Test series defeats (if Gill’s team fails to turn the tables today) would be a stain that could cut short Gambhir’s longevity at the helm.
Future shrouded in uncertainty?
Already, there are reports that the BCCI could hold a crucial meeting later this month to decide on Gambhir’s future.
Another Test series debacle will ‘force’ the apex body to take a call on Gambhir’s Test stint.
In fact, the BCCI recently did clip Gambhir’s wings by sacking one of his trusted aides, Abhishek Nayar, as assistant coach – a signal that stricter actions await if the performance graph goes south.
But why should only Gambhir be crucified? Isn’t it time to have a straight talk with the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, too?
The hefty pay package and eye-catching perks Agarkar has been showered with to usher in a new era seem to be an erroneous investment.
But unfortunately, it’s the coach who is punished, with the selectors given a reprieve.
So, one shouldn’t be taken by surprise if India has separate coaches for red and white ball cricket, something the authorities have never experimented with.
Well, that looks a bit improbable as of now, and maybe Gambhir will have to face the axe from all formats if more embarrassments encircle his team. A resignation cannot be ruled out either.
Can Gill and company bail their coach out? Fingers crossed, but time’s running out for Guru Gambhir.
