ENG vs IND 2025: 'Does his style connect with players?' - Gary Kirsten questions Gautam Gambhir's coaching style
"He's had success in the IPL. I remember when we split the one-day team and the Test team and we made him the one-day captain against New Zealand," said Kirsten.
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Former India head coach Gary Kirsten has expressed concerns over Gautam Gambhir’s rapport with the current Indian players, following Gambhir’s recent appointment as head coach of the national team. Gambhir took over the role after Rahul Dravid’s tenure ended in June 2024.
Since his appointment, India’s journey has been a mixed bag. The team suffered a major setback with a defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in January 2025. However, under Gambhir's leadership, India bounced back to clinch the Champions Trophy 2025, marking their second ICC title in under a year, following their T20 World Cup triumph.
Kirsten, who coached Gambhir during his playing days, reflected on the latter's personality, and raised questions about whether his approach resonates with the current generation of Indian cricketers.
“Well, I don't know Gautam Gambhir, the coach, at all. Gautam, the player, I absolutely loved. He's got a toughness to him that is very useful. I think he's really strong. But he's got a personality and he's got a style. The big thing is does that personality and style connect with Indian players? That's really what it's going to be about,” Kirsten remarked, according to Indian Express.
“He's had success in the IPL. I remember when we split the one-day team and the Test team, and we made him the one-day captain against New Zealand before coming to South Africa. And he did a fantastic job,” the former South Africa international added.
Don't speak against Gambhir, he's doing well: Yograj Singh
Kirsten, who coached India to victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup, shared his thoughts on Gambhir, a key player from that squad. The Delhi-born played a pivotal role in the final against Sri Lanka in Mumbai, scoring a memorable 97-run knock under enormous pressure that laid the foundation for Men in Blue's most iconic triumph in World Cup history.
India enter Manchester in a do-or-die encounter
Speaking about the England tour, India currently trails 1-2 in the five-match series. The third Test saw a nail-biting finish, where India fell short by just 22 runs, failing to chase a modest target of 193. With the series heading into a decisive phase, the fourth Test is set to begin on July 23 at Old Trafford, Manchester. In case, the visiting team loses, they will have to let go the series as well. As a result, Shubman Gill & Co. will be aiming to bounce back.