Former Team India manager Lalchand Rajput stated that newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir hates losing and he will definitely add value to the team. Gambhir has taken over the coaching baton from Rahul Dravid and he will be determined to get the best out of the players.
Gambhir has savoured great success as a mentor in the Indian Premier League and he will look to replicate the same for India. The former India was part of the coaching staff for Lucknow Super Giants, that qualified for IPL 2022 and 2023 playoffs.
Furthermore, Gambhir was instrumental in taking Kolkata Knight Riders to glory in IPL 2024 as a mentor.
Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir had earlier admitted he hates losing and he becomes grumpy when he losses and he always wants to come back in a winning dressing room.
While talking to CricketNext, Rajput said, “To be very honest, it depends upon the coaches as well because you are starting a new chapter and the players have to abide by the style of your functioning and every coach has a different style of functioning. How quickly he gets to know the players, adapts himself with the captain is important. The captain and coach are very important.”
Speaking on Gambhir, Rajput added, “The skipper drives the team on the field; the coach does that off the field. The captain and the coach should be on the same wavelength. I am sure Gautam Gambhir, who has done exceptionally well for KKR will get that team bonding together and start the journey on a positive note.”
He concluded, “Gambhir is very passionate about the game. He hates losing. He wants to win all the time and that is a very good thing. He being associated with the Knight Riders has made a lot of difference and I am sure he will add value to the team.”
Gambhir kicked off his coaching stint on a winning note as India registered a thumping win of 43 runs in the first T20I against Sri Lanka at Pallekele on Saturday.