"Gautam Gambhir jyada lambe samay tak tik nahi payega" - Joginder Sharma on India's newly appointed head coach
Former Indian pacer Joginder Sharma feels Gautam Gambhir won't be able to carry on as the head coach of the Indian team for a long time. Gambhir took over from Rahul Dravid after the Men in Blue won the T20 World Cup by beating South Africa in the final.
Gambhir has had a fabulous start to his stint as head coach as the Men in Blue won their T20I series 3-0 against Sri Lanka. However, Joginder still feels Gambhir won't be able to continue in the role for long enough despite the contract being until the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube channel, Joginder Sharma said about Gambhir:
"Gautam Gambhir team ko sambhalne waala hai lekin par mera ye manna hai ki Gautam Gambhir jyada lambe samay tak tik nahi payega (Gautam Gambhir is the one to manage the team, but I believe that Gautam Gambhir will not be able to stay for a long time)"
Joginder shed light on the difference of opinion that can take place between the coach and the players and added:
"Kyunki Gautam Gambhir ke apne hi kuch faisle hote hain. Ho sakta hai kisi player se man motaaw ho jaye. Mai Virat Kohli ki baat nahi kar raha hun. Gautam Gambhir ke faisle kai baar aise ho jaate hain ki dusro ko pasand nahi aate (This is because Gautam Gambhir has his own decisions. It might happen that he has a disagreement with a player. I am not talking about Virat Kohli. Many times, Gautam Gambhir's decisions are such that others do not like them)."
Gambhir has had a great record as a mentor, helping the Lucknow Super Giants make it to the playoffs in both the seasons that he was with them. He also mentored the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title earlier this year.
Gautam Gambhir seedhi baat karne waala hai: Joginder Sharma
Joginder Sharma highlighted the qualities that Gambhir brings as head coach. He feels the former Indian opener will not go everywhere asking for credit for his achievements but will just put his head down and work.
On this, Joginder Sharma stated in the same interaction:
"Gautam Gambhir seedhi baat karne waala hai. Wo kisi ke paas jaane waala nahi hai. Gautam Gambhir chaplusi karne waala banda nahi hai. Usko credit dene waale hum log hain. Wo apna kaam karta hai, sacche dil se karta hai, badi imaandaari se karta hai. (Gautam Gambhir speaks directly. He is not someone who will go to anyone. Gautam Gambhir is not a person who flatters. We are the ones who give him credit. He does his work, does it sincerely, and does it with great honesty)"
The first ODI between India and Sri Lanka ended in a tie and the second ODI will be played in Colombo on Sunday, August 4.