Former South African pacer Dale Steyn has endorsed Gautam Gambhir’s selection as the head coach of Team Bharat, emphasizing his aggressive playing style and cricket acumen.
Following Rahul Dravid’s departure, the BCCI announced Gambhir’s appointment, who recently guided Bharat to victory in the T20 World Cup, ending an 11-year ICC trophy drought.
“I’m a big fan of Gautam Gambhir. I love his aggression. He’s one of the few Indians I ever played against who came back at you, and I like that,” commented Steyn, highlighting Gambhir’s impact on senior players like Virat Kohli.
“Not just in Bharat, but in world cricket, we need guys who are a little bit more aggressive and play the game a little bit harder,” Steyn added, praising Gambhir’s fierce yet gentlemanly approach on and off the field.
Jacques Kallis, former Proteas all-rounder, echoed similar sentiments, expressing confidence in Gambhir’s coaching abilities and his potential to impart valuable insights to the Indian team.
“It’s great to see Gautam getting into the coaching side of things. He’s got a really good cricket brain. He’ll bring some fire and loves playing the game aggressively,” Kallis remarked, foreseeing Gambhir’s positive influence on the team.
Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi also weighed in, highlighting Gambhir’s positive demeanor and straightforward approach in interviews.
Gambhir will commence his coaching tenure with the Indian team during the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, which includes three T20Is and as many ODIs starting July 27. His appointment marks a significant transition in Indian cricket, with expectations high for his leadership and strategic acumen to guide Bharat forward.
