"He's a fighter"- Virat Kohli warned by Ravichandran Ashwin on Gautam Gambhir's appointment as India Head Coach

Former Indian World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir has been ruling the headlines ever since the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won IPL 2024 under his mentorship in May. Now, the former Indian opener is widely considered the frontrunner to succeed Rahul Dravid as Team India's head coach after the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Amid the buzz over Gambhir’s appointment as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team, Ravichandran Ashwin lauded the former teammate and recalled how he helped him during his early days in the national team at the launch of his book, "I Have the Streets: A Kutti Cricket Story".

Ravichandran Ashwin lauds Gautam Gambhir amid speculation over India's head coach role

Ashwin described Gambhir as a "fighter" with an exceptional desire to win while recalling their interactions during his first full Test series for India against New Zealand in 2012. This was a significant moment for the Indian off-spinner, as he had spent the initial years of his career primarily carrying drinks before the 2011 World Cup.

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) off-spinner further credited Gambhir for providing him with considerable confidence during that time when he was not getting the games with Team India.

Ravichandran Ashwin was quoted as saying by India Today at his book launch: “I was playing my first full series. I only carried drinks during the first two years before the World Cup in 2011. Gautam gave me a lot of confidence at the beginning of my career. I was not used to someone beyond my state (Tamil Nadu) giving me that sort of confidence.”

Meanwhile, the 37-year-old off-spinner also highlighted how Gambhir is often misinterpreted due to his straightforward nature. He argued that perceptions of Gambhir are completely unfair. Ashwin was also pleased with the fact that people gave hero tags to some of the sports figures while overlooking others' contributions to the team’s success.

Gautam Gambhir is a very misunderstood person: Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin also pointed out that Gambhir's competitive spirit and avid hunger for victory set him apart. His remarks highlighted the personal and professional qualities that make Gambhir a strong contender to become India’s next head coach.

The senior cricketer added, “Gautam Gambhir is a very misunderstood person. It's all about perception. He is a fighter. The biggest issue with many of us is that we give hero status to someone in our minds and forget about everyone else. This is a sport, not a movie narrative. There are no heroes and villains. Gambhir is a competitor. His desire and hunger to win is unbelievable. I have massive respect for him.”

Well, as reported by PTI, Gambhir is expected to secure the head coach position over WV Raman, with an official announcement from the BCCI anticipated soon. Gambhir might officially take over as India’s head coach in mid-July with the team’s limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka.

It is being said that VVS Laxman, the director of the National Cricket Academy (NZA), is likely to serve as the interim head coach for India’s upcoming tour of Zimbabwe for the five-match T20I series in July 2024.