Rohit Sharma shockingly calls Gautam Gambhir 'Khadoos'

The dynamic duo of Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir has begun a new era of leadership in Indian cricket. Following the successful partnership of Rohit and Rahul Dravid, which brought India a historic T20 World Cup victory in 2024, the spotlight now turns to how this fresh captain-coach partnership will shape the future of Indian cricket.

With Rohit remaining at the helm as captain and Gambhir stepping into the coaching role, the air is charged with excitement and anticipation as they look to steer the Indian cricket team toward new achievements, and their immediate task will be the Champions Trophy 2025 and WTC Final.

Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir team up to redefine Indian Cricket

Both Rohit and Gambhir are no strangers to success, having played key roles in India's historic 2007 T20 World Cup triumph under MS Dhoni’s captaincy in South Africa.

Their wealth of experience, coupled with a shared history of overcoming challenges on the field, sets the stage for a formidable partnership that promises to elevate the team’s performance in the international arena.

As the Indian captain reflected on this transition during an interview, the seasoned opener highlighted the significant shift in coaching philosophy with Gautam Gambhir's arrival.

The former Indian opener was known for his fierce determination and resilience during his playing days, and Rohit is expected that the head coach will instill a similar mindset in the national team.

Rohit Sharma also called Gautam Gambhir a "khadoos" player—a term denoting an unwavering and gritty approach to win at any cost—aligns perfectly with the Indian team’s need for a no-nonsense attitude as they prepare for upcoming big tournaments, including the tough Australia tour.

This transition marks a strategic shift in Indian cricket, moving away from the coaching of Dravid to embrace Gambhir's fiery spirit.

He was a khadoos kind of player: Rohit Sharma on Gautam Gambhir

With the emphasis on mental toughness and competitive grit, the new coaching regime is expected to promote a culture where players push their limits and fight for every run, and Rohit Sharma said that the dressing room, under his leadership, is buzzing with motivation.

Rohit Sharma was quoted as saying by NDTV: “We have seen a chance in coaching. Earlier, Rahul Bhai was there. Now, Gautam Gambhir is our coach. He was a khadoos (stubborn) kind of player. He played some great innings in tough matches.”

The Indian captain also discussed using phrases like 'garden mein ghoomne wala' and similar expressions during the matches, explaining that his role is to perform on the field and motivate others to do their best.

Rohit mentioned that he would say whatever is necessary to inspire the team, emphasizing that the current atmosphere in the Indian dressing room is full of motivation and drive.

Rohit signed off by saying, “My job is to play and bring out the best in others. For that, I will say whatever I have to say. The atmosphere in the Indian dressing room is such that everyone is motivated.”