"Indian team coaching is slightly different"- Anil Kumble's old comment on Gautam Gambhir as India head coach goes viral

Legendary India spinner Anil Kumble's old video has gone viral in which he is talking about Gautam Gambhir's appointment as India's head coach. In the video, Kumble claimed that Gambhir has all the experience but needs to be given time to settle with the players.

Gautam Gambhir was recently appointed as India's new head coach after Rahul Dravid ended his tenure with India's T20 World Cup 2024 win in Barbados.

Reportedly, Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman were the two candidates for the role but Gambhir was preferred by the board. Gambhir has a proven record working as a mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders recently. Under his mentorship, KKR had a wonderful season in IPL 2024 and clinched the title after a gap of 10 years.

Also read: 'Will make dreams come true' - Gautam Gambhir's remarkable first reaction after becoming India head coach

Anil Kumble's old comment on Gautam Gambhir as India head coach goes viral

Meanwhile, when Anil Kumble was asked about Gautam Gambhir's possible appointment a month ago, he stated that Gambhir needs to be given time to settle into his role. While speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Kumble backed Gambhir to do the job well but also warned that coaching Team India is different from other teams.

"You will have to give him time. He certainly is capable. We have seen Gautam (Gambhir) handle teams. He has been the captain for India, for his franchise, for Delhi. So he has all the credentials to be that. But Indian team coaching is slightly different. You will have to give him time to settle in. In case he does take up the job or does get to him, he will have the task of sort of looking at not just the current lot but also the future of Indian cricket," Kumble had said.

Working with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma won't be a challenge - Anil Kumble

When asked if it would be a challenge for Gambhir to work with players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli whom he has played with earlier, Kumble responded that it wouldn't be a big issue. The legendary legspinner stressed the fact that the new head coach should be able to handle difficult situations and take tough calls accordingly.

"I think few sort of players have been a part of the system in some form or the other. Whether you're a coach or a player, you've played with them or been associated with the team in some form or the other. I don't think it certainly matters that much but what you need to certainly look at is the kind of candidature you're going to pick and not necessarily go with this particular player or this particular coach," Kumble stated.

"The coaches have had a background of playing with the players and suddenly that sort of coming in the way or not coming in the way. So I think it's important to choose the right candidate in terms of what they can bring to the Indian team and someone who and someone who has the credibility to handle certain situations in the game and someone who takes those calls," he added.

Anil Kumble himself has been India's head coach before for one year. He started his tenure in 2016 but it ended after India's shocking defeat in the 2017 Champions Trophy final to Pakistan. There were reports of differences between Kumble and then India's captain Virat Kohli.