Former India opener and current Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir recently addressed speculations about him being the front-runner for the position of India’s next head coach. At an event, Gambhir humorously remarked that he isn’t looking that far ahead when questioned about the possibility.
Current Team India head coach Rahul Dravid’s tenure is set to end following the 2024 T20 World Cup. Dravid has confirmed that he is not seeking an extension, and in recent days, Gambhir’s name has emerged as a potential successor.
Reportedly, Gambhir participated in a virtual interview with the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee earlier this week. At an event organized by the Indian Chambers of Commerce in Kolkata on Friday, June 21, Gambhir was asked about these reports.
“I don’t see that far ahead. You are grilling me, asking me all tough questions. It is difficult to answer right now. All I can say is that I’m happy being here, just finished a brilliant journey (and) let’s enjoy that. I’m in a very happy space right now,” Gambhir responded, as quoted by PTI.
When asked about his coaching philosophy, the 42-year-old emphasized the importance of putting the team before individual players. He elaborated:
“If you have the intent of keeping your team ahead of any individual, things will fall in place. If not today, tomorrow, if not tomorrow, someday it will fall in place. But if you start thinking on that, or if you know that you need to help one or two individuals perform, then your team will only suffer.”
Gambhir, a former left-handed batsman, has an impressive international career, representing India in 58 Tests, 147 ODIs, and 37 T20Is, amassing over 10,000 runs.
“All of us in the dressing room made the change” – Gambhir on KKR’s IPL 2024 Triumph
Gambhir was recently in the spotlight as the mentor of the KKR team that clinched the IPL 2024 title. Appointed to the role ahead of the season, Gambhir credited the entire team for their success.
“Yes I was the leader but all of us in the dressing room made the change. It was about making Kolkata proud. It was a moral responsibility for me to give something back to Kolkata. In a team sport, it’s the team that matters the most. Individuals do play a role, individuals do contribute,” Gambhir said.
He further emphasized the importance of equality within a team:
“But I think if 11 people are treated equally, if 11 people have equal respect, if everyone is treated equally, given the same respect, same responsibility, same honor, you will achieve an unbelievable amount of success. You cannot have discrimination in a setup or in an organization,” Gambhir concluded.
Incidentally, the 42-year-old was the captain of the KKR franchise that won the IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. As the cricketing world waits in anticipation, will Gambhir be the next to take the helm of the Indian team? Only time will tell.
