“Gautam Gambhir is Honest and Straightforward,”: Uthappa
Robin Uthappa backed head coach Gautam Gambhir, citing his straightforward approach and dismissing comparisons to Greg Chappell amid India’s recent underwhelming Test performances.
Amid India’s recent struggles in red-ball cricket, former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has strongly defended head coach Gautam Gambhir, lauding his straightforward and honest style. Gambhir, who succeeded Rahul Dravid as head coach in July 2024, has faced criticism after a string of disappointing results.
India began Gambhir’s tenure with a convincing 3-0 T20I series win in Sri Lanka but stumbled in the ODIs, suffering a 0-2 series defeat. Although they secured a 2-0 home Test series win shortly after, the team was whitewashed 0-3 by New Zealand at home. Most recently, India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to Australia, enduring a 1-3 Test series defeat in Australia, relinquishing the title for the first time since 2014-15.
Gambhir’s alleged strained relationship with players has drawn comparisons to Greg Chappell’s controversial tenure as India’s head coach in the mid-2000s. However, Uthappa dismissed such claims during an appearance on the YouTube channel ‘Lallantop.’
“I disagree with you that his style is similar to Greg Chappell’s. I don’t agree with it at all. I have not met a more straightforward person than Gauti. He is very direct. You may not like what he says, but he will tell it to you on your face, you can be sure of that, and I love people like that. According to me, these people have a good life,” Uthappa said.
Uthappa further elaborated on Gambhir’s candid nature, adding: “They say whatever they are thinking, and that is enough. You get what you see; that is better than being a different person behind someone’s back. I prefer someone being straightforward with me, and Gauti is very, very straight.”
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India’s failure to deliver under Gambhir has drawn parallels to their disappointing exit from the 2007 ODI World Cup under Chappell, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage. Uthappa also dismissed concerns regarding Gambhir’s relationship with captain Rohit Sharma, emphasizing that Gambhir has deep respect for the Indian skipper.
“Here they are probably finding the chemistry of the dynamic. It hasn’t been set yet, probably with Bumrah, he was leading his first Test, so the chemistry was better. Some just probably click, and some take some time to click. It is not like the chemistry is not there. It is there, and you can see in Gambhir’s interviews. He respects and likes Rohit a lot. Sometimes, relationships take time, as both are leaders with their own styles,” Uthappa explained. Nevertheless, India’s next assignment under Gambhir will be a white-ball home series against England, starting January 22.
Last Updated on January 11, 2025
