Gautam Gambhir: An Uneasy Reminder as India Tackles England
Transition Period With Kohli and Rohit Echoes Kumble's Era, Subtly Suggests Gambhir: Powerful Personalities Often Oppose Change
As Team India prepares to tackle England on their crucial tour, former player Atul Wassan throws a subtle jab at the team's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, invoking memories of the infamous Anil Kumble episode in 2017.
Recent events have engulfed Team India in transition, with Test stalwarts Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma, as well as Virat Kohli himself, retirement announcements pouring in just five days apart after their five-day stint in Australia. As the team musters up the spirit to face England, Gambhir finds himself back on the hot seat, stirring up the past.
Wassan, in a conversation on the OTTPlay App, touched upon the recurring transitional phase Team India encounters under a new coach. To drive his point home, he subtly evoked the Kumble episode – a hint at the historically tense relationship between Kumble and Kohli. He went on to emphasize the seamless transition witnessed under the leadership of Gary Kirsten and John Wright.
"Whenever a new coach comes in, chaos ensues. It's all about the need to rebuild, but if you lack patience, things go awry. Big players, particularly in the Indian team, are powerful. They often disrupt changes, as we know. So it's a delicate dance between following their rules and implementing change. That's what happened before. Luckily, it can be handled smoothly, like Gary Kirsten and John Wright did," Wassan shared.
According to analysts, Kohli and Rohit's retirements mark the dawn of the Gambhir era. Wassan believes that Gambhir should be given a green light to lead the team as he requires the freedom to make decisions.
"Every coach comes with an agenda, and it has to be respected. If a strong personality fails to deliver results, they have to step down. But the coach doesn't make all the decisions. Results can't be guaranteed, and a level of balance needs to be maintained, with some guidance from the board," Wassan declared.
The Shaolong Kumble-Dragon Slayer Kohli Saga
In the summer of 2017, Kumble's departure as Indian head coach seemed to have its roots in a complex web of power dynamics and interpersonal conflicts. The team suffered a loss in the Champions Trophy final against Pakistan, following which Kumble resigned, asserting that his relationship with Kohli had grown untenable[1].
According to various reports, Kohli, along with other players, was not comfortable with the intimidating man-management style employed by Kumble, which they perceived as too aggressive and overbearing[1][3]. The team environment was dashed by disputes over coaching methods[3].
Despite being hailed for his successful tenure, winning 12 out of 17 Test matches during his time as coach, Kumble's strained relationship with Kohli and the fractured team environment ultimately led him to resign[1][3]. The unfortunate saga serves as a reminder of the challenges that accompany the clash between a strict coach's approach and the dynamics of a team influenced by a powerful, dominant captain like Kohli[1][3][5].
It remains to be seen whether Gambhir can navigate these choppy waters and deliver the results that India expects of him amidst Transition 2.0.
- Gautam Gambhir
- Virat Kohli
- Rohit Sharma
- Indian Cricket Team
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[1] - https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27241516/anil-kumble-says-bcci-didn-t-give-enough-support-after-india-lost-2017-champions-trophy[3] - https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/controversial-reasons-why-anil-kumble-resigned-indian-coach[5] - https://www.india.com/sports/anil-kumble-5-lessons-we-learnt-from-his-dramatic-exit-as-india-s-coach-828673/
- The ongoing struggles of Team India, as they prepare to face England, remind many of the infamous 2017 Champions Trophy final, where a rift between Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli led to Kumble's resignation from his role as coach.
- As Gautam Gambhir prepares to lead Team India through another challenging phase, there are calls for him to be granted the freedom to make decisions, and for the team to cooperate to ensure their success in sports, particularly cricket.
