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Gautam Gambhir has clinched his inaugural T20I series as a coach with a match still remaining. Venkatesh Iyer, who has been a pivotal player for KKR over the years, has recently highlighted what sets Gambhir apart as a mentor.
In his debut role as head coach for Team India, Gambhir has applied several strategies from his successful tenure with KKR. He has consistently employed a left-right batting combination in both T20I matches played so far and has optimized his use of bowling resources.
Riyan Parag’s effective bowling and wicket-taking performances underscore Gambhir’s exceptional ability to read the game and adapt to conditions. Gambhir’s coaching style, marked by its directness and intensity, is something Iyer experienced firsthand earlier this year with KKR.
Venkatesh Iyer reminisced about the message Gautam Gambhir delivered to the team following their defeat to Punjab Kings in the IPL 2024. The Kings successfully chased down a record-breaking 262 runs against KKR, marking the highest-ever chase in T20 history.
Iyer described Gambhir’s response as refreshingly direct following KKR’s loss to Punjab Kings. After that game, KKR went on a winning streak, securing victories in all their subsequent matches leading up to the final. In the championship match against SRH, Gambhir’s KKR clinched their third title.
“We were all in shock, but what he told us was absolute truth. He told us that we didn’t bowl and we didn’t stick to our plans. The meeting we had that day was revolutionary because after that meeting, it’s our bowling that won us all the games in the IPL. That is a day that every KKR player remembers because that’s when things started to turn around for us,” Iyer recalled.
Iyer also remembered how Gambhir approached him and gave him a reassuring pat on the back when he was promoted to bat at number seven, despite having scored a fifty in his previous match against RCB while batting at number three.
“For a mentor to come and talk to me like that means a lot. And also before the season, the way he spoke to me, the way he handled me – because I did not score a lot in the practice games, but he still gave me the confidence to go out there and express myself in the tournament,” Iyer said further on Gambhir’s class.
Venkatesh Iyer praised Gautam Gambhir’s unparalleled dedication to his tasks.
The KKR all-rounder also noted that Gautam Gambhir distinguishes himself through his experience with various coaches, as he has a keen sense of when to challenge a player and when to offer support and understanding.
“The biggest quality of GG sir is his passion and his unparalleled dedication towards the task in hand,” he says. “There’s an aura right there, which kind of makes you place the team ahead of you, and that’s his biggest quality,” said Venkatesh Iyer in his interaction with ESPNCricinfo.
Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as the head coach of the Indian cricket team extends until the conclusion of the 2027 ODI World Cup. During this period, his primary task will be to facilitate a seamless transition for the team across all formats. Although he has made a promising start with the T20I squad, his significant test will come in the upcoming Test series against Australia later this year. Additionally, he will need to navigate the BCCI’s stance on the Champions Trophy 2025.
