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Gautam Gambhir, a two-time World Cup-winning player, has been appointed as the head coach of the Indian white-ball squad for the upcoming matches against Sri Lanka. This change comes after Rahul Dravid’s tenure ended following the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Gambhir’s childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, is optimistic about this new phase for Indian cricket. He believes Gambhir’s leadership and sharp cricketing acumen can bring out the best in the players and elevate the team to new heights. Speaking to PTI, Bharadwaj mentioned that Gambhir might consider giving opportunities to players like Kuldeep Yadav and Navdeep Saini, who have been overlooked in the past.
During the tenures of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri, and later Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid, Navdeep Saini didn’t receive many chances to prove his mettle. Despite his talent, Saini last played for India in 2021. Bharadwaj emphasized that Gambhir’s ability to recognize and nurture talent is remarkable, citing his success with Sunil Narine in IPL 2024 as an example.
Kuldeep Yadav, who played a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory by taking 10 wickets in five matches, has not been a regular feature in Test matches or ODIs. Bharadwaj suggests that Gambhir’s fresh approach and willingness to take on tough challenges might provide players like Yadav and Saini with the opportunities they deserve.
Gambhir’s history of overcoming challenges and achieving success, including his pivotal role in India’s two World Cup victories and Kolkata Knight Riders’ three IPL title wins, speaks volumes about his potential as a head coach. With Gambhir at the helm, there is renewed hope and excitement for the Indian cricket team’s future.
