With Gautam Gambhir deemed suitable for the head coach role by many ex-players and pundits, it is the former Indian cricketer’s man management skills that strike the eye the most. Gambhir’s ability to take an upcoming player under him and utilize him in the most effective manner has proved to be a game changer for KKR as well. As far as senior players are concerned he knows when to back a player who is coming under a lot of criticism and protect him from any outside noise as well.
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These skills will come in handy when he will take his Indian team to some of the most intimidating venues and against some fierce opponents in the days to come. Here are some of the challenges that the new head coach will be facing as soon as he begins his tenure with the Men in Blue.
Challenges For Gautam Gambhir and Team India
Tests: After the home series against Bangladesh (2 Tests) and New Zealand (3 Tests), India will face a challenging tour in Australia, playing five Tests. This series could be crucial for their standing in the ICC World Test Championship cycle. The team aims for another series win following two successful tours of Australia since 2018, but Pat Cummins’ squad has been a formidable opponent recently. In this WTC cycle, the series might be Gambhir’s toughest challenge yet.
ODIs: Gambhir’s leadership will officially begin with an away series against Sri Lanka, featuring 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs. Following that, India will host England for a three-match ODI series in February next year before the Champions Trophy. India hasn’t won a title in this format since the 2013 Champions Trophy, and Gambhir will aim to change that in the coming year.
T20Is: India is celebrating after winning the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA, but with the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, the team is in a transitional phase. Although the next tournament is two years away, Gambhir must manage the team through this critical period. He will need to appoint a new captain and replace three key players in the lineup during T20I series against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa, and England. With many players emerging from the IPL, Gambhir has a lot to handle. Maximizing his resources could be the key to either disappointment or successfully defending the title at home in 2027, according to ANI.
