'Gautam Gambhir does not need to be rude, rough because he is a good man': Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly lauded Gautam Gambhir's coaching success, highlighting his T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy wins. While acknowledging Gambhir's aggressive style, Ganguly believes he doesn't need to be rude, calling him a "good man" and a competitor. Ganguly expressed confidence in Gambhir improving his Test coaching, especially on good wickets, and expects him to master away tours.
NEW DELHI: Gautam Gambhir is rarely seen smiling and carries the reputation of being a hard taskmaster. His aggression, celebrations, and constant involvement - from offering tips to players to applauding milestones and victories - along with his straightforward remarks in press conferences, are prime examples that define his serious demeanour. However, former India captain Sourav Ganguly has a different take.
While acknowledging Gambhir’s no-nonsense and aggressive approach, Ganguly described him as a “good man” and said he does not need to be rude or rough. Gambhir was appointed head coach of the Indian team in July 2024, succeeding Rahul Dravid, who guided India to the T20 World Cup 2024 title. Under Gambhir, India went on to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the Asia Cup, and also successfully defended their T20 World Cup crown in 2026 by defeating New Zealand national cricket team in the final.
"He [Gambhir] is winner [of] T20 World Cup, winner Champions Trophy, he is a tremendous T20 coach," Ganguly told Revsports. While Gambhir has been praised for India’s success in white-ball cricket, he has also faced criticism for the team’s struggles in the red-ball format. India suffered a 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand last year, followed by a 1-3 series defeat in Australia.
The five-match series against England in England ended in a 2-2 draw. India then registered a 2-0 clean sweep against West Indies, but suffered another home whitewash, losing 0-2 to South Africa. Ganguly expressed confidence that Gambhir will improve as a Test coach in the near future.