“It’s not who the coach is”: Sanjay Manjrekar’s post criticized by Internet as anti-Gautam Gambhir

The Gautam Gambhir era in Indian cricket began on Saturday with the team taking on Sri Lanka in the first of a three-T20I series. Ever since Gambhir took over as coach of the Indian cricket team, expectations have risen over his management. As a mentor to the Kolkata Knight Riders, Gambhir guided the team to the IPL 2023 title. Previously, he guided the Lucknow Super Giants to two consecutive IPL playoffs.

With the Indian cricket team entering a crucial phase where veterans like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja have retired from T20Is, all eyes will be on Gambhir. However, former Indian cricket team player Sanjay Manjrekar wrote in X that it is never about who the coach is.

“No coach, Lalchand Rajput, Gary Kirsten and Dravid. Coaches when India won WCs in 1983, 2007, 2011 and 2023. It’s really about Indian cricket, not about who the coach is. It’s time we stop thinking there is a direct correlation,” Sanjay Manjrekar wrote in a post on X.

No coach, Lalchand Rajput, Gary Kirsten and Dravid. Coaches when India won WCs in 1983, 2007, 2011 and 2023.
In fact, what matters is Indian cricket, not who the coach is. It’s time we stop thinking there is a direct correlation.

-Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) July 27, 2024

Although it was a general observation, internet users took it as an attack on Gambhir.

Lafda Time With Gambhir Manjrekar vs Everyone Seems

– Sagar Mhatre (@MhatreGang) July 27, 2024

Why are you salty of Gambhir now?

— vir (@minimalkohli) July 27, 2024

What are you trying to say? Maintain clarity in your statements. It’s just a start to @Gautam Gambhir . Let it do its job.

-Dipanjan Chatterjee (@I_am_DipCh) July 27, 2024

Manjrekar faces Gambhir. Game started

-David (@DavidVj007) July 27, 2024

India first won the ODI World Cup in 1983 when the team did not have a designated coach. Then came an incredibly successful stint in 2007 and 2011 where MS Dhoni led the team, although the coaches were different on both occasions.

Under Dravid’s guidance, India won the 2024 T20 World Cup title in Barbados and ended their 11-year ICC title drought. India have also come close on two previous occasions when they lost in the World Test Championship final and the ODI World Cup final against Australia last year.