I Don't See That Far Ahead, Difficult to Answer: Gambhir on Being Next India Coach

Front-runner for the role of head coach of the Indian cricket team, Gautam Gambhir did not give too many hints regarding a potential change in role but he opened up regarding the philosophies he abides by as a coach.

Speaking at the Indian Chamber of Commerce event in Kolkata, the former Indian opener revealed that his mantra was based on a team-first philosophy. This led him to mentor the Kolkata Knight Riders to the title of the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League.

When asked regarding the India head coaching job, Gambhir did not give much away.

“I don’t see that far ahead. You are grilling me, asking me all tough questions,” he said.

“It is difficult to answer right now. All I can say is that I’m happy being here, just finished a brilliant journey (and) let’s enjoy that. I’m in a very happy space right now,” Gambhir said at a ‘Rise To Leadership’ seminar here.

He stated his philosophy which had a team-first approach and backed this methodology to come good if not not then in the future.

READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE | BCCI CAC Interviews Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman for India Coach Job

“If you have the intent of keeping your team ahead of any individual, things will fall in place. If not today, tomorrow, if not tomorrow, someday it will fall in place,” he said.

“But if you start thinking on that, or if you know that you need to help one or two individuals perform, then your team will only suffer,” he added.

He suggested that it is not his job to make any individual perform in his role as a mentor. Rather he took the team as a collective and did what was needed to help KKR get to the top and this is an ideology he stands by with team-based sports.

“For me, the guru mantra is a team-first philosophy. I think team-first ideology, team-first philosophy is the most important ideology in any team sport,” he added.

READ MORE: Gautam Gambhir or WV Raman? Or Both?

Gambhir insisted that it was the members in the dressing room that made the right changes which then resulted in what was an all-round dominant performance across the season.

“Yes I was the leader but all of us in the dressing room made the change. it was about making Kolkata proud. It was morale responsibility for me to give something back to Kolkata,” he said.

It was earlier reported by Cricketnext, that the former India opener, Gambhir along with WV Raman had applied for the post as Head Coach of the Indian cricket team.

Rahul Dravid who is currently the head coach is set to end his tenure following the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. The BCCI is yet to announce the next coach.

(with PTI Inputs)

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