‘Gautam Gambhir is not important’: India coach’s epic one-line storm press conference

Taking charge of an incredibly successful team that has just secured the 2024 T20 World Cup title, Gautam Gambhir knows the challenges that await him. Although India became T20 world champions, they are also runners-up in the ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship. Gambhir, India’s new coach, has had no qualms in admitting that he is taking charge of an incredibly successful team and that he has big shoes to fill as he takes on his new role in the national team.

Speaking to the media before the Indian team’s flight to Sri Lanka, Gambhir made his stand as a coach, saying “Improvement of Indian cricket is important, Gautam Gambhir is not important”.

“I’ve always said that a happy dressing room is a winning dressing room. That’s my responsibility. For me, I don’t complicate too many things. I’m taking over a very, very successful team. World T20 champion, runner-up in the World Test Championship and the World Cup of the 50th World Cup. There are problems to be resolved, but this is a team of champions”, said Gambhir.

“I had a fabulous relationship with Jay Shah. All these speculations about different things. We can do a better job clarifying these things. Gautam Gambhir is not important, the improvement of Indian cricket is important. I really enjoyed working with him, I hope it stays that way “, he added.

Gambhir also admitted that he has big shoes to fill as he steps into a role previously occupied by the likes of Rahul Dravid and Ravi Shastri.

“The most important thing is that they will always be by my side. My goal is to make it a happy and safe locker room. I am taking over a very successful team. Runners-up in the WTC and WC 50-overs. I have big shoes to fill and I’m looking forward to it,” Gambhir said at the press conference

Gambhir will be supported by his KKR teammate Abhishek Nayar, who will take on the role of assistant coach for the team, and Ryan Ten Doeschate, who will also be part of the support team.

“I have worked closely with Abhishek and Ryan over the last two months in the IPL with KKR. They are both absolute professionals and I hope they have a successful stint with the Indian team as coaches.”

Gambhir will have to work with a star-studded dressing room, at least when the ODI begins, with Team India captain Rohit Sharma and batsman Virat Kohli joining the squad. Gambhir says he has a good relationship with Virat Kohli.

“I shared a great relationship with Virat Kohli, we exchanged messages – he is a world-class batsman, I have said many times, that we both will work hard for Team India and make 140 million people proud,” he said.

“Both Virat and Rohit have a lot of cricket left in them, they are world class, any team would have both – there is the Champions Trophy, the Australian series and if fitness goes well then the 2027 World Cup,” he added .

Gambhir opened the left-handed side for the Indian team and served as a mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders team in the 2024 Indian Premier League. KKR lifted their third IPL trophy this season under Gambhir’s guidance.

Rahul Dravid’s tenure as head coach of the Indian national team came to an end following the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup final, where India beat South Africa by seven runs to win the prestigious trophy after 17 years.

With ANI inputs