Gautam Gambhir faces the backlash after BGT defeat

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team has gotten off to a challenging start, with the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy highlighting concerns over his leadership. India’s 3-1 defeat in the series against Australia has raised several questions about Gambhir's suitability as a long-term coach for the national side. Despite his remarkable playing career, his coaching journey seems to be facing early setbacks, leaving many to wonder whether he can inspire the team to success in the future.

Manoj Tiwary, the former Indian cricketer, was vocal in his criticism of Gambhir’s approach to coaching. Tiwary remarked that Gambhir doesn’t practice what he preaches, suggesting a disconnect between the coach’s philosophies and the team’s on-field performances. Additionally, Tiwary questioned the choice of support staff under Gambhir, claiming that they were mere “yes men” who lacked the authority to make independent decisions. According to Tiwary, this lack of autonomy within the coaching setup could be hindering the team's overall development and decision-making processes.

"Gautam Gambhir is a hypocrite. He doesn't do what he says. The captain (Rohit) is from Mumbai, Abhishek Nayar is from Mumbai. Rohit has been pushed to the forefront. There is no one to speak for Jalaj Saxena. He performs well but keeps quiet. What is the use of a bowling coach? Whatever the coach says, he will agree. Morne Morkel came from Lucknow Super Giants. Abhishek Nayar was at Kolkata Knight Riders with Gambhir and the Indian head coach knows that he will not go against his instructions," said Manoj Tiwary in a recent interview. 

Manoj Tiwary, who shared a considerable amount of time on the field with Gautam Gambhir, having played 56 matches alongside him (49 for India and 7 for Kolkata Knight Riders), also weighed in on the potential challenges in the relationship between Gambhir and current India captain Rohit Sharma. Tiwary suggested that the dynamics between the two could be strained, given their contrasting personalities and leadership styles.

While both are accomplished cricketers with successful careers, Tiwary felt that the differences in their approach to the game could create friction. Gambhir, known for his aggressive and outspoken nature, often prefers a direct and assertive style of leadership, while Rohit, though equally competitive, tends to maintain a more laid-back, calm demeanor. According to Tiwary, these differing leadership traits could lead to challenges in aligning their vision for the team.

Tiwary further hinted that such contrasting personalities could prevent the two from forming a cohesive working relationship. While both are respected figures in Indian cricket, the possibility of them not getting along in a high-pressure environment like the Indian dressing room is a concern Tiwary expressed, especially if things don’t click on the field.

“How will they work together? Rohit is a World Cup-winning captain while Gambhir led KKR to IPL titles both as a captain and mentor. Gambhir didn't guide KKR to the title single-handedly, as we all performed as a unit. Jacques Kallis, Sunil Narine and I, all contributed to the cause. But who took the credit? There is an environment and PR that allows him to take all the credit,” added Tiwary.