Jason Gillespie the Gautam Gambhir of coaching? Ricky Ponting's bold take on Pakistan coach

Legendary Australia captain Ricky Ponting feels that Pakistan's new Test head coach Jason Gillespie is like Gautam Gambhir. Ponting believes that Gillespie will be able to take the best out of Pakistan's players during his tenure.

Gautam Gambhir has recently started his journey as India's head coach. His first assignment was India's tour of Sri Lanka, in which India won the T20I series but suffered a demoralizing defeat in the ODI series.

On the other hand, Gillespie's tenure as Pakistan's red-ball coach is set to begin in the upcoming home series against Bangladesh. The series consists of two Tests, which will be played in Rawalpindi and Karachi.

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Ricky Ponting feels Jason Gillespie is like Gautam Gambhir

During a discussion with The ICC Review, Ricky Ponting pointed out Jason Gillespie's impressive record as a coach and showed confidence in him for doing a good job. Ponting also felt that Gillespie would get the best out of Pakistan's players.

"Jason Gillespie is a bit like (Gautam) Gambhir. Pretty much everywhere he has been, his coaching record has been very very good. He will have some challenges I got no doubt about it. But he is a deep thinker and as I said, a quiet person that goes about it in his own way," Ponting stated.

Gautam Gambhir has a great record working with the coaching staff and is known to get the best out of his players. The former India opener was part of India's squads that won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the ODI World Cup in 2011. In the finals of both these tournaments, Gambhir was India's highest run-getter and helped India clinch the title.

Recently, Gambhir was the mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders and played a vital role in the team's title win in IPL 2024. He has also led KKR to IPL victories in 2012 and 2014.

Ricky Ponting not surprised by the changes in Pakistan's Test team

Ponting was also not surprised by the wholesale changes in Pakistan's squad for the Test series against Bangladesh. He further added that changes are necessary sometimes in order to expect the desired results.

"We've got a few WhatsApp groups over the years, all of us old guys that have played together. So everyone's congratulated him (Jason Gillespie) and wished him luck in that role," Ponting said

And look, to be honest, I am not surprised at all by the amount of changes in that group. I know it is a different format but they had a very disappointing T20 World Cup. If you are not willing to make some changes, you're expecting similar results to come your way," the former Australia batter added.

Jason Gillespie's coaching experience

Jason Gillespie has a vast coaching experience across the world. The former Australia quick has worked as a coach in Zimbabwe's domestic circuit. Gillespie has also been associated with IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab as a bowling coach.

Furthermore, he has been the head coach of Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League and also served for Sussex in the County championship. In 2020, he was appointed the head coach of South Australia in the Australian domestic circuit.

Jason Gillespie's current assignment with Pakistan is his first as an international head coach and he will aim for a good start.