"You are grilling me, asking me all tough questions" - Gautam Gambhir's cheeky response on being frontrunner to take over as India's head coach
Former India opener and current Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir didn't give a direct response to a query on reports of him being the frontrunner to take over as India's next head coach. At an event, he said that he's not seeing that far ahead.
Current Team India head coach Rahul Dravid's tenure will end following the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the batting legend has confirmed that he has not sought an extension. Over the past few days, the name of Gambhir has been doing the rounds as the most likely candidate to take over from Dravid.
According to media reports, he took part in a virtual interview with the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee earlier this week. At an event organized by the Indian Chambers of Commerce in Kolkata on Friday, June 21, Gambhir was asked about reports of him being all set to take over as India's head coach.
"I don't see that far ahead. You are grilling me, asking me all tough questions. It is difficult to answer right now.
"All I can say is that I'm happy being here, just finished a brilliant journey (and) let's enjoy that. I'm in a very happy space right now," Gambhir responded, as quoted as saying by PTI.
Asked about his approach to coaching, the 42-year-old said that it's all about putting team before self, explaining:
"If you have the intent of keeping your team ahead of any individual, things will fall in place.
"If not today, tomorrow, if not tomorrow, someday it will fall in place. But if you start thinking on that, or if you know that you need to help one or two individuals perform, then your team will only suffer."
The former India left-hander played 58 Tests, 147 ODIs and 37 T20Is, scoring over 10,000 international runs.
"All of us in the dressing room made the change" - Gambhir on KKR's IPL 2024 triumph
Gambhir was in the news recently, as he was the mentor of the KKR franchise which lifted IPL 2024. The former India opener was appointed to the role ahead of the season. Sharing his views on Kolkata's success, the former KKR skipper credited the entire set-up.
"Yes I was the leader but all of us in the dressing room made the change. it was about making Kolkata proud.
"It was moral responsibility for me to give something back to Kolkata. In a team sport, it's the team that matters the most. Individuals do play a role, (though); individuals do contribute," Gambhir said.
Elaborating on the significance of everyone being treated equally, he emphasized that there's no place for discrimination in an organization.
"But I think if 11 people are treated equally, if 11 people have equal respect, if everyone is treated equally, given the same respect, same responsibility, same honor, you will achieve an unbelievable amount of success. You cannot have discrimination in a set up or in an organization," Gambhir concluded.
Incidentally, the 42-year-old was the captain of the KKR franchise that won the IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.