Stop fighting! Gautam Gambhir strictly ordered to tone down aggression in press conferences

Former Team India opener Aakash Chopra shared advice for head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the five-match T20I series against South Africa at home. Chopra said that Gambhir should handle press conferences with a bit more calm, adding that his statements after losses can create unnecessary controversies.

India, led by KL Rahul, completed the ODI series against South Africa with a comfortable nine-wicket win in Visakhapatnam. The Men in Blue chased down the 271-run target with more than 10 overs to spare. Following the victory, Gambhir used the press conference to criticize journalists and a franchise owner.

Gautam Gambhir’s comments were directed at Delhi Capitals (DC) co-owner Parth Jindal, who recently suggested that India needed a separate red-ball coach after the team’s 2-0 defeat in the Test series against South Africa.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Gautam Gambhir Came In Very Fiery - Aakash Chopra

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that Gautam Gambhir’s straightforward approach during media interactions is expected, but it can also turn into a disadvantage. Chopra added that it creates unnecessary pressure and opens the door for backlash.

"Gautam Gambhir came and he was very fiery. You expect that with Gautam. When he comes to press conferences, he speaks his heart out. I have a suggestion for Gautam," Chopra said.

"When you come so fiery, and when you go after an individual or something, people then start waiting for Gautam to fail. At times, it seems like you are setting yourself up for this kind of criticism," he added.

Gautam Gambhir’s Mistake Only When the Team Loses - Aakash Chopra

The cricketer-turned-commentator said that Gambhir should not be held responsible every time India lose. Chopra said that Gambhir doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. He added that staying away from constant fights would help the coach stay focused and avoid distractions.

"It cannot be his (Gambhir's) mistake only when the team loses. One thing is certain with Gautam. His heart is at the right place, and he is a very passionate guy. He is always ready to fight for the country and the country's team. My only suggestion is don't fight. You have to please nobody. Don't pick up so many fights," Chopra elaborated.

India suffered a 0-2 Test defeat against South Africa at home. It was their first series loss to the Proteas on Indian soil in nearly 25 years. Notably, this setback came after the 3-0 whitewash they endured in New Zealand last year.

Why Is No One Talking About It? - Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra agreed that India felt Shubman Gill’s absence in the opening Test against South Africa. He pointed out that Gill, who had been scoring heavily for months, was missing from both innings, and that the margin of defeat was small.

"He said that we lost by 30 runs in the Kolkata Test, in which our main batter, who has scored 1,000 runs in the last seven months, wasn't available in both innings, and why is no one talking about it? I concur because we had spoken about it that if Shubman had played in both innings, he would have scored 30 at least. However, we also criticized the pitch," Chopra observed.

Shubman Gill couldn’t take part in India’s 30-run defeat after injuring his neck early in the match. He retired hurt in the first innings and wasn’t available in the second. The skipper also missed the second Test, where India suffered a 408-run loss in Guwahati.

Also read: "Will not allow IPL matches…": Karnataka Deputy CM issues official update on RCB’s home Chinnaswamy