Former Indian pacer S. Sreesanth has launched a sharp critique of Team India's head coach Gautam Gambhir, questioning his coaching philosophy and labeling it as overly traditional. The veteran fast bowler also drew comparisons with former India captain MS Dhoni, suggesting that the national team would benefit more from having a mentor-like figure rather than a conventional coach.
Sreesanth's Remarks on The Lallantop Show
Speaking on The Lallantop Show, Sreesanth was asked about India's recent struggles in Test cricket. The discussion centered around the team's series defeats against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa in 2025, both of which occurred during Gambhir's tenure as head coach. In response, Sreesanth expressed his dissatisfaction with Gambhir's approach to coaching.
"Change the coach, friend. India needs a mentor, not a coach," Sreesanth said in the interview. "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.
India's Struggles Under Gambhir
India's difficulties under Gambhir were not limited to those two Test series defeats. The team also suffered a 3-1 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a result that ended India's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship final. It marked the first time India failed to secure a place in the tournament's summit clash.
Sreesanth Downplays Gambhir's Role in T20 World Cup Win
Sreesanth also downplayed Gambhir's role in India's most recent T20 World Cup triumph, arguing that the players on the field deserved the bulk of the credit for the achievement.
"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? Was the coach making decisions on the field? It's fine if we have a coach like Ashish Nehra, who remains involved," he said.
Shared History of Sreesanth and Gambhir
Interestingly, Sreesanth and Gambhir share a successful history as teammates. The duo were part of two of India's most iconic triumphs, the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup, with both players playing important roles in the team's memorable title-winning campaigns.
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