"Virat Kohli's entire legacy will be wiped off by Gautam Gambhir"- India teammate
Published - 18 Aug 2025, 04:46 PM | Updated - 18 Aug 2025, 05:53 PM
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Indian cricket has already entered a new chapter with Gautam Gambhir as head coach, who is on a mission to make cultural changes. Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan suggested that Gautam Gambhir’s stint would completely rewrite the system and even wipe out Virat Kohli’s legacy.
Gambhir is not the kind of coach who smiles and lets things go easily. The former Indian opener is direct, honest, and sometimes tough on players, but only for the team’s success. Many have already lauded Gambhir’s clear communication and no-nonsense approach.
Irfan Pathan predicts Gautam Gambhir will end ‘Star Culture’ in Indian Cricket
The current Indian head coach, who believes in attacking cricket, is strict about putting the team first. He doesn’t like favoritism or believe in star power and makes sure every player knows their role. Given how he has been guiding the Indian cricket team, Irfan Pathan suggested that the team will no longer give free chances to players just because they are big names.2e
The former Indian all-rounder has indirectly slammed Virat Kohli as he pointed out how Indian cricket has often continued to back certain players despite years of inconsistent performances, mainly because of their iconic status and past contributions.
Irfan Pathan targets Virat Kohli while praising Gautam Gambhir
However, Pathan believes that Gambhir will end the “star culture” and build “team culture” in Indian cricket. Even the coach has reportedly already initiated steps to push Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma aside from the ODI setup as well, as India is set to start preparing for the ICC World Cup 2027.
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Irfan Pathan said on The Lallantop, “Till the time Gautam Gambhir finishes his coaching journey, he will fully bring in the team culture. Even now in team culture, a player keeps failing for three, four, or five years but still gets opportunities because he is a big name. Somewhere you have to put a full stop.”
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Irfan Pathan lauds Gautam Gambhir-Ajit Agarkar duo for building team-first culture
Furthermore, Pathan praised the strong partnership between head coach Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. He said that decisions in Indian cricket are no longer taken by just one person.
He believes that Gambhir and Agarkar are steering Indian cricket in the right direction, saying they are building a fresh culture where every move is about the team’s future success.
Pathan further mentioned, “The other person who deserves credit is Chairman Ajit Agarkar. Today, no decision can be taken solely by the coach or selector. If two strong individuals (Gambhir and Agarkar) come together, the team moves in the right direction. I believe these two are heading in the right direction… for team culture.”
This isn’t the first time Pathan has defended and hailed Gambhir. After India’s big win at Edgbaston in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, Pathan pointed out that Gambhir often faces hate for no reason. One of the biggest highs of Gambhir’s Test coaching so far came in England, where the team fought back in style and finished with a sensational 2-2 draw.
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