Robin Uthappa makes colossal remark on Gautam Gambhir's performance under pressure after defeat in SL ODIs
Published - 12 Aug 2024, 04:18 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:17 AM
Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has backed Gautam Gambhir's leadership abilities as the new head coach of the Indian men's cricket team. Robin Uthappa highlighted that Gautam Gambhir can foster a culture of success and provide strong support to his team, describing him as a great tactician.
Gambhir started his tenure as head coach during the white-ball series against Sri Lanka. The Men in Blue secured a 3-0 win in the T20I series. However, Sri Lanka made a remarkable comeback by winning the ODI series 2-0. It was Team India's first bilateral ODI series loss against Sri Lanka since 1997.
Gautam Gambhir Is An Exceptional Leader Of People - Robin Uthappa
Speaking to TOI, Uthappa said that Gambhir will create a positive environment for players and maximize their potential. Uthappa mentioned that Gambhir provides security to his players and helps them seize opportunities.
"He [Gambhir] will seek out major opportunities and strive to seize them. As a leader, I can vouch for his ability to create an environment that enables people to thrive. He is that kind of leader — more than just a great captain, he's also an excellent tactician and an exceptional leader of people."
"He fosters a culture within the group that encourages success. Gautam Gambhir is a leader who provides security to his players, and we have seen that in action," Uthappa added.
Robin Uthappa and Gambhir have played together for both the Indian national team and the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). They were part of the Indian national cricket team that won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the Kolkata Knight Riders that secured the IPL title in 2014.
Gautam Gambhir Has Consistently Sought Out Big Matches To Deliver - Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa believes that Gautam Gambhir will excel under pressure. Uthappa highlighted Gambhir’s ability to thrive in high-pressure situations and his track record of performing well on big stages. He predicted that Gambhir would bring the same qualities to his role as the new head coach.
"He's always been someone who thrives under pressure and has consistently sought out big stages to deliver. As far as I'm concerned, I see the same qualities in him as a leader within this group," Uthappa added.
Gautam Gambhir’s next assignment as head coach is the two-match Test series against Bangladesh at home, starting on September 19. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has directed Test players, excluding Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah, to play in the Duleep Trophy next month.
The Indian team will play the highly anticipated five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series against Australia later this year. The Champions Trophy 2025 will be played in February-March next year. Gambhir will face the challenge of securing wins in these tournaments.
