Afghanistan's star wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has come out in staunch defence of Gautam Gambhir, the embattled head coach of the Indian cricket team, branding him the "best ever coach, human being, and mentor" he has encountered in his professional journey. This strong endorsement comes at a time when Gambhir is facing significant scrutiny following India's recent Test series defeat at home.
Gurbaz Baffled by Criticism, Highlights Gambhir's Credentials
Speaking to the Press Trust of India (PTI), Gurbaz expressed his bewilderment at the intense criticism directed at Gambhir. The Afghan player, who was a crucial part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad that clinched the Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2024 under Gambhir's mentorship, urged for perspective.
"If 1.4 billion people are there in your country, you can say 2-3 million will be against him. The rest are with Gautam sir and with India team. It doesn't make sense to talk about them," Gurbaz stated. He emphasized Gambhir's positive impact, adding, "He's the best ever coach and human being, mentor that I have had in my career so far. I love the way he goes about things."
Gurbaz pointed to India's recent successes in white-ball cricket to counter the narrative against the coach. "India just won the Champions Trophy in ODI format, Asia Cup in T20 format. They have won a lot of series, so you can't blame them for one series," he argued.
The KKR Blueprint: Discipline Over Strictness
Reflecting on their triumphant IPL campaign, Gurbaz shed light on Gambhir's coaching philosophy, which he believes fosters a winning environment. "I love the way he (Gambhir) goes about his job. When you have a good environment, you will be always on the top. He made the environment very easy for us, nothing stressful, nothing strict… and that's why we won the tournament," Gurbaz explained.
He clarified that Gambhir's approach is rooted in discipline rather than authoritarianism. "He is not strict but he is disciplined. He is strict only when something goes against discipline," the Afghan cricketer noted, highlighting a key aspect of Gambhir's leadership style that resonated with the KKR players.
Context: Gambhir Under Fire After Test Setbacks
Gautam Gambhir's role has been heavily questioned since the Indian team suffered a 0-2 whitewash against South Africa in a recently concluded Test series at home. This marked India's second Test series whitewash on home soil in a short span, following a 0-3 defeat to New Zealand last year.
These results have severely dented India's long-standing reputation as an invincible force at home in Test cricket. The team has now lost five out of its last seven Test matches played in India, raising serious concerns about its red-ball strategy and performance.
Despite this, Gurbaz appealed for support for the team and its coach during this challenging phase. "As a cricketer, I will never blame players because everyone works hard and tries their best. They lost, so what? They are human. Sometimes you lose — it's part of life," he said with empathy.
He concluded with a poignant message for Indian cricket fans: "When you are going through bad times, that's when you need support." Gurbaz's vocal backing provides a significant international perspective to the ongoing debate about Gambhir's coaching and the Indian team's future trajectory.
