"When the Head Coach is from your own country"- Mohammed Shami breaks silence on Gautam Gambhir's appointment
India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has given his opinion on Gautam Gambhir's coaching style. Gambhir was recently appointed India's new head coach after Rahul Dravid's tenure ended after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024.
Gautam Gambhir is known for his straightforward and aggressive approach towards the game. As a captain, he has been successful in the Indian Premier League (IPL) before, leading Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.
Gambhir was KKR's mentor in IPL 2024. Under his mentorship, KKR won their third IPL title this year, which paved the way for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to approach him for the head coach's role.
Mohammed Shami's blunt remark on Gautam Gambhir's coaching style
During a podcast on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube channel, Mohammed Shami was asked about new head coach Gautam Gambhir's coaching style and people's expectations in his tenure.
Shami replied that Gambhir's method won't be different from others but his belief can help the team. He also added that having an Indian head coach helps as it improves the understanding between the players and the coach.
"I don't think his method will be anything different. He is a person who believes that if you work hard, you will get the results. If you work on your skills, they will improve as well. And it happens too. When your head coach is from your own country, the understanding gets better too," Shami said on the podcast.
Gautam Gambhir has had a decorated international career for India, in which he was a part of two ICC tournament wins. In 2007, India won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup 2024 and Gambhir top-scored in the final against Pakistan with a gritty 75 off 54 balls.
In 2011, Gambhir played a key role in India's ODI World Cup win after 28 years. The left-hander top-scored for India in the final against Sri Lanka with a brilliant 97 off 122 balls. Apart from this, he has also been the No. 1 Test batter in the ICC Test rankings.
Gautam Gambhir's first assignment as India's head coach
Rahul Dravid's tenure ended on a high note with India winning the T20 World Cup 2024 title. But with senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retiring from T20Is, Gambhir will have a tough job at hand to ensure India's smooth transition.
Gambhir's first assignment will be India's upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, where the team will play three T20Is and three ODIs at Pallekele and Colombo respectively.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami last played an international match in the ODI World Cup final in 2023. Since then, he has been out of the side as he suffered an ankle injury during the World Cup. The fast bowler underwent Achilles Tendon surgery in London and is likely to make an international comeback in the home series against Bangladesh.
