Patil emphasized that Gambhir’s focus should be on effective man-management rather than coaching the players in their individual skills, given the abundance of talent within the team.Gambhir’s first assignment as head coach will be a limited-overs series in Sri Lanka, which includes three T20Is and an equal number of ODIs. The opening match of the T20I series is scheduled to take place on Saturday, marking the beginning of Gambhir’s tenure at the helm of the Indian team.
“I don’t think his job is to coach the Indian team. His job is to help the Indian team,” Patil told PTI Videos in an exclusive interview.
“That’s how it works at the top level. You need player management. That will be the challenge for Gambhir.”
“He has done it and I am sure he will continue to do the same with the Indian cricket team,” said Patil on the sidelines of an event organised by Shrachi Rajasthan Tigers.
Patil, who was part of the victorious Indian team that clinched the World Cup in 1983, expressed his desire for Gambhir to maintain his outstanding performance at the international stage, following his remarkable success in the IPL.
“Gambhir had done an exceptional job as a coach for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL. I hope that he continues to help the Indian team in the same way,” he added.
Patil expressed his support for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who stepped down from T20 internationals following their triumphant World Cup campaign in the previous month. He believes that they should persist in representing the nation in the remaining formats for an extended period.
“Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are still doing extremely well and there is no question of an Indian team without them. I wish the Indian team all the best wherever they are playing and whatever tournament they are playing, they are bound to do exceedingly well,” he said.
“Surya comes from Mumbai and is a very dear friend of mine. He has been given the captaincy and he deserved it. I wish him all the best,” he said about India’s newest T20I captain.
Patil expressed that since India’s historic victory in 1983, the country has witnessed remarkable advancements in the sport of cricket.
“Like every Indian, I wish the Indian cricket team good luck. I am happy that I am part of 1983 and the progress the Indian team has made over the years has been commendable,” he said.
Patil emphasized the significance of India’s participation and competitiveness across various sports disciplines.
“Cricket has changed over time, so has coaching and the approach to sports. We need to ensure India can become a contender in all sports and all avenues of sports,” he added.
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