Former India fast bowler S Sreesanth has taken aim at head coach Gautam Gambhir, asserting that the Indian cricket team needs a mentor rather than a coach. He suggested that someone in the mould of former captain MS Dhoni would be a better fit for the national side.
Speaking on Lallantop, Sreesanth was asked about India's recent struggles in Test cricket. India suffered home Test series defeats to New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa in 2025, both under Gambhir's tenure as head coach.
Sreesanth did not hold back in his response. "Change the coach, friend. India needs a mentor, not a coach," he said. The former pacer explained that managing players is about building relationships and understanding them rather than simply demanding results.
"You have to be a brother first. You can't just laugh when you win and get angry when you lose. You've done well for the country, that's great. That doesn't mean others aren't trying. Have a mentor over a coach," he added.
Sreesanth also accused Gambhir of putting too much pressure on players. Drawing a comparison with MS Dhoni, he argued that successful international teams do not require coaches who burden players with excessive expectations. According to Sreesanth, India's successful teams in the past were driven by Dhoni's mindset and leadership, and he believes the current setup would benefit from having a mentor with a similar approach.
"I have an issue with the way he coaches. There is too much pressure on the players. At this level, you need a mentor. Dhoni never put players under pressure and then dropped them if things didn't work out," Sreesanth said. "Team India needs a mentor like Dhoni."
The 42-year-old also pushed back against the perception that Gambhir was solely responsible for India's T20 World Cup 2026 triumph. He highlighted the contributions of key players, including Sanju Samson and captain Suryakumar Yadav.
"When the team won the World Cup, all the credit went to Gambhir. But if Sanju Samson hadn't been there, Suryakumar Yadav hadn't captained, and the bowling changes hadn't been made at the right time, would we have won the match?" Sreesanth questioned.
Questioning how much influence a coach can have during a game, he added: "Was the coach making decisions on the field? It's fine if we have a coach like Ashish Nehra, who remains involved."
Since taking charge following Rahul Dravid's exit, Gambhir has overseen contrasting fortunes for India. The team enjoyed significant success in white-ball cricket, winning the T20 World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and Asia Cup under Gambhir's tenure. However, a string of disappointing results in Test cricket, both at home and overseas, has put India's red-ball setup under scrutiny and sparked debate over the team's direction in the longest format.
