Gautam Gambhir’s No-Favouritism Policy: Childhood Coach Reflects on His Leadership

July 11, 2024 0 752

Gautam Gambhir’s childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, praised Gambhir’s fairness and ability to spot talent, emphasizing that Gambhir’s only favoritism is towards the game of cricket itself.

Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as Team India’s head coach marks a new era in Indian cricket. Known for his aggressive on-field attitude and no-nonsense approach, the former India captain was appointed head coach of the national team based on his impressive IPL credentials. He has successfully mentored Lucknow Super Giants to the playoffs in two seasons and led Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL championship this year.

Gambhir officially took over on July 9, following Rahul Dravid’s departure after India’s T20 World Cup 2024 win. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced his appointment on social media. Gambhir’s first assignment will be India’s tour of Sri Lanka, starting on July 27, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is.

It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr @GautamGambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Modern-day cricket has evolved rapidly, and Gautam has witnessed this changing landscape up close. Having endured the grind and excelled in various roles throughout his… pic.twitter.com/bvXyP47kqJ
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) July 9, 2024

Gambhir’s childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, praised his integrity and talent-spotting ability, citing his past support for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Bharadwaj emphasized Gambhir’s commitment to team success and his focus on maintaining a balanced team without favoritism, making him an ideal choice for the role.

“He (Gambhir) has played with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the past. Long back, he had once given his ‘Man of the Match’ to Virat. That shows his golden heart. He told me long back that Rohit Sharma will become a great player one day. This was when Rohit was not among the runs and needed some encouragement. His observation about Rohit proved accurate,” Bharadwaj told news agency PTI.

“If Gautam ever feels that something is right for the team, he will be firm on that decision. Gautam plays to win. He knows what to do and focuses on having a set team combination. He doesn’t believe in favoritism; the only thing that is his favorite is cricket,” he added.

Bharadwaj also believes Gambhir’s proven approach will bring success as India’s head coach, just as it did in winning two World Cups and three IPL titles. He urged Gambhir to stay true to his methods and justify the country’s faith in him.

“With his batting, he won two World Cups for India in 2007 and 2011. As a player, you helped India win two World Cups, then propelled KKR to three IPL titles. You have a habit of taking up challenges and conquering them; be honest in your approach and repay the country’s faith in you,” the coach concluded.