'Gautam Gambhir faced plenty of criticism': Irfan Pathan gives India coach 'huge credit' for T20 WC triumph

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan hugely appreciates Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir for defending the T20 World Cup title successfully. With the 2026 Trophy in big, India now has a total of three T20 World Cup trophies.

Irfan Pathan shared a series of posts from his official 'X' account appreciating the team's historic win in Ahmedabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium. While most of the talks and discussions are dedicated to the cricketers, Pathan dedicated a couple of posts to Gautam Gambhir, who had to go under a lot of criticism and pressure.

Irfan Pathan showed his support for the head coach Gautam Gambhir

Before the tournament, when the team was in a developing phase, Gautam Gambhir had to sustain a series of criticisms from the fans and from a few critics as well. During his tenure, the former opener made multiple experiments to shape the team according to the standards of modern era T20 cricket.

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To make things stabilize, the coach and the backroom staff had to try out multiple formulas to set a powerful team. Despite a lot of backlash from a portion of Indian cricket fans, Gautam Gambhir remained focused on this thought process, and the result is now in front of everyone.

"Gautam Gambhir deserves huge credit. He faced plenty of criticism while planning for this World Cup, but he stuck to his process and kept experimenting until he found the right combination. He stayed fully involved from the outset, constantly supporting the Indian captain during tough moments and helping keep the team together", Pathan said in one of his 'X' posts.

In reply, Gautam Gambhir wrote in the comment section, "Thanks for your kind words brother. Means a lot! "

Last but not least, @GautamGambhir deserves huge credit. He faced plenty of criticism while planning for this World Cup, but he stuck to his process and kept experimenting until he found the right combination.

He stayed fully involved from the outset, constantly supporting…

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 9, 2026

The experiments with the batters in various positions now proved on point

In a different social media post, the former cricketer, now a cricket expert observed that the outcome is a result of a long process. Players in various positions of the batting order were a part of the process. Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, and Ishan Kishan are now capable of scoring runs from any position of the batting order because of the clear vision and well-chalked-out process.

"Before the World Cup, they trusted a clear process, preparing players to bat in different positions and adapt to any situation. Despite criticism, they stuck to the plan and it finally paid off in this World Cup. Tilak batting from 3 to 6. Shivam floating between 4–7 and Ishan moving from opener to No.3 and still performing, that flexibility made the difference. Batting first isn’t the issue for this team. It’s all the mindset and preparation", he explained his observation.

This Indian team is the best white-ball side in the world right now. 🇮🇳

Before the World Cup, they trusted a clear process, preparing players to bat in different positions and adapt to any situation. Despite criticism, they stuck to the plan and it finally paid off in this…

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 9, 2026

Pathan mentioned Rohit Sharma as well

Pathan also wrote on the social media platform that the captain Suryakumar Yadav has been carrying the legacy, which was founded by the former captain Rohit Sharma, under whose leadership Team India won the T20 World Cup 2024.

Surya Kumar Yadav took the legacy forward which was created by Rohit shSharma@ImRo45 @surya_14kumar

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 9, 2026

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