Gautam Gambhir has had a mixed start as India’s head coach since taking over from Rahul Dravid after India’s T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year, but former South Africa great Jonty Rhodes said it shouldn’t be looked at as a concern by the Indian fans or administrators.
India’s tour of Sri Lanka was Gambhir’s first and so far the only assignment, and the team whitewashed their hosts 3-0 in the T20I series but suffered a 2-0 loss in the ODI series.
Rhodes said it always takes time to adapt to a change.
“I think any time there’s a change, whether it be the leadership from a captaincy point of view or from a coach and management (point of view), it’s going to take an adjustment,” the South African, who gave a different dimension to the art of fielding, was quoted as saying by India Today.
“So once they find their feet, we know India has the strength and the talent pool and the depth of talent to certainly allow him (Gambhir) to hit the ground and pick up speed very quickly in his coaching career.”
Rhodes has worked with Gambhir when both were part of the think-tank of the Indian Premier League franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), when Gambhir was the team’s mentor.
Rhodes, who had worked with Gambhir during his time with LSG, said the former India opener and World Cup winner strives for excellence and has a winning attitude.
“I know how passionate he is. He looks for excellence on and off the field, but he doesn’t expect players to do something that he never did or he won’t do. So I think from that point of view, he’s somebody who’s not gonna be lenient with anybody unless it’s required because he’s expecting,” said Rhodes, who will serve as the brand ambassador for Pro Cricket League.
“He (Gambhir) just wants excellence. I mean he wants the team to win, and it’s not for his record or for what he can achieve.”
India will be back in action under Gambhir with the two-Test series against Bangladesh commencing later this month.
India’s tour of Sri Lanka was Gambhir’s first and so far the only assignment, and the team whitewashed their hosts 3-0 in the T20I series but suffered a 2-0 loss in the ODI series.
Rhodes said it always takes time to adapt to a change.
“I think any time there’s a change, whether it be the leadership from a captaincy point of view or from a coach and management (point of view), it’s going to take an adjustment,” the South African, who gave a different dimension to the art of fielding, was quoted as saying by India Today.
“So once they find their feet, we know India has the strength and the talent pool and the depth of talent to certainly allow him (Gambhir) to hit the ground and pick up speed very quickly in his coaching career.”
Rhodes has worked with Gambhir when both were part of the think-tank of the Indian Premier League franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), when Gambhir was the team’s mentor.
Rhodes, who had worked with Gambhir during his time with LSG, said the former India opener and World Cup winner strives for excellence and has a winning attitude.
“I know how passionate he is. He looks for excellence on and off the field, but he doesn’t expect players to do something that he never did or he won’t do. So I think from that point of view, he’s somebody who’s not gonna be lenient with anybody unless it’s required because he’s expecting,” said Rhodes, who will serve as the brand ambassador for Pro Cricket League.
“He (Gambhir) just wants excellence. I mean he wants the team to win, and it’s not for his record or for what he can achieve.”
India will be back in action under Gambhir with the two-Test series against Bangladesh commencing later this month.
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