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As Gautam Gambhir prepares for his first match as head coach of the Indian cricket team, Sanjay Manjrekar has strongly criticized the current buzz surrounding Gambhir and former head coach Rahul Dravid.
Manjrekar has cautioned fans, players, and broadcasters against selectively setting high expectations. He emphasized that Gambhir is assuming a pivotal role with immense anticipation and scrutiny following his appointment as head coach of Team India, succeeding Rahul Dravid.
The commentator emphasized that the primary focus should be on the Indian cricket team as a cohesive unit rather than on individual personalities, including the new coach Gambhir. According to Manjrekar, the success of Indian cricket cannot be attributed solely to any single individual, be it a coach or player, but rather to the combined efforts of the entire team.
While acknowledging Gautam Gambhir’s illustrious career as a two-time World Cup winner and his significant role in Indian cricket, Manjrekar underscored that the essence of the sport lies in the collective achievements of the team, not just the coach.
Highlighting India’s four World Cup triumphs, Manjrekar pointed out that these victories were the result of team effort, not solely due to coaching influences. He specifically referenced Rahul Dravid, who recently led India to victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, breaking a lengthy title drought and achieving notable milestones during his tenure as head coach.
Manjrekar concluded by urging everyone to shift their focus away from individual profiles and towards appreciating the collective performance of the Indian cricket team, which has been instrumental in the nation’s cricketing successes over the years.
In a social media post on Saturday morning before the first T20I against Sri Lanka, he highlighted that India’s first two World Cup triumphs occurred during periods when coaching roles weren’t always occupied by specialized coaches, such as in the 1983 World Cup and the 2007 T20 World Cup. This reflection comes as Gambhir embarks on his new journey with Team India in the upcoming match.
Sanjay Manjrekar posted on X: “No coach, Lalchand Rajput, Gary Kirsten & Dravid. Coaches when India won WCs in 1983, 2007, 2011, & 2023. It’s really about Indian cricket, not who the coach is. Time we stop thinking there is a direct correlation.”
Remarkably, the legendary all-rounder and former captain Kapil Dev led India to their first ODI World Cup victory in 1983, triumphing over the formidable West Indies despite the absence of a designated head coach. However, it took another 24 years for India to clinch their second World Cup title.
In 2007, under the charismatic leadership of MS Dhoni, a youthful Indian team claimed the inaugural T20 World Cup. Interestingly, India did not have a head coach at that time, following Greg Chappell’s dismissal. Instead, Lalchand Rajput served as the team director during their successful campaign in South Africa.
Subsequently, Gary Kirsten and Rahul Dravid were at the helm when India secured their third ODI World Cup in 2011 and the latest T20 World Cup in 2024.
