Former India fast bowler S Sreesanth has criticized Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach and said the Indian team would benefit more from having MS Dhoni as a mentor. Sreesanth also dismissed the praise the head coach received after India's recent T20 World Cup triumph.
Gambhir's first season as head coach has produced mixed results across formats. India failed to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final and suffered a 0-3 home series defeat to New Zealand in 2024. The team then lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia.
India later managed a 2-2 series draw against England, but concerns over the team's Test performances continued. The side also endured a 0-2 home series defeat to South Africa in 2025, increasing the scrutiny on India's results in red-ball cricket under Gambhir's tenure.
India Needs a Mentor, Not a Coach - Sreesanth Takes Dig at Gautam Gambhir
During The Lallantop's Guest in the Newsroom program, Sreesanth discussed India's coaching setup and the team's recent performances across formats. The former India pacer also shared his views on the direction of the national team under the current management.
Sreesanth argued that Gautam Gambhir places too much pressure on the players and said the team needs a mentor who can inspire confidence and support cricketers during difficult phases. He suggested that players respond better to guidance and trust rather than constant scrutiny.
"Change the coach, friend. India needs a mentor, not a coach."
During the same podecast, Sreesanth openly challenged Harbhajan Singh to a boxing match.
You Have to Be a Brother First - Sreesanth Explains Why He Prefers MS Dhoni's Leadership Style
Sreesanth said a successful leader must remain calm and balanced regardless of the result. The former India pacer argued that players need support during difficult periods and warned against dropping cricketers immediately after poor performances.
"You have to be a brother first. You can't just laugh when you win and get angry when you lose. You've done well for the country, that's great. That doesn't mean others aren't trying. Have a mentor over a coach."
MS Dhoni built confidence within the squad and backed players through challenging phases rather than reacting harshly to setbacks. The former fast bowler shared a dressing room with both Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir during India's successful 2011 ODI World Cup campaign.
When the Team Won the World Cup, All the Credit Went to Gambhir - Sreesanth
Sreesanth stated that Gautam Gambhir was not solely responsible for India's recent T20 World Cup triumph. The former India pacer argued that the players on the field deserved most of the credit for the victory, pointing to their performances and decision-making during crucial moments.
"When the team won the World Cup, all the credit went to Gambhir. But if Sanju Samson hadn't been there, Suryakumar Yadav hadn't captained, and the bowling changes hadn't been made at the right time, would we have won the match? Was the coach making decisions on the field? It's fine if we have a coach like Ashish Nehra, who remains involved."
During India's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, Suryakumar Yadav led the team, while Sanju Samson delivered crucial match-winning performances. India's T20 World Cup triumph was the second ICC title during Gautam Gambhir's tenure with the national team, following the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 victory.
