Indian coach Gautam Gambhir is temperamental person and has his own ideas, Kapil Dev says

Dubai: Few jobs in Indian cricket come with as much pressure as being the head coach of the national team, and Gautam Gambhir is already feeling the heat. After inheriting a team fresh off a Twenty20 World Cup triumph, his tenure has quickly spiralled into controversy. From crushing series defeats to questions over senior players’ form, Gambhir’s first months have been anything but smooth sailing.

The Indian team’s struggles have been glaring: a humiliating ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka, a clean sweep at home against New Zealand, and a bitter series loss in Australia, shattering a decade of dominance Down Under. As the losses pile up, so do the doubts surrounding Gambhir’s credentials, especially with senior stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failing to find their rhythm.

Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev, however, believes that Gambhir, despite his temperamental nature, can succeed and serve Indian cricket effectively.

“The expectations are high. The coaches are not on the field, but the captain and the team are on the ground. A new coach will come out with his own ideas and hope it will serve the country in a better sense. If he’s not, then people will raise their finger,” the 66-year-old former Indian skipper told Gulf News ahead of the 18-hole ‘Texas Pairs’ Emirates NBD CEO Masters 2025 at the Trump International Golf Club in Dubai.

“Gambhir is a slightly temperamental person. He’s different from Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid. Every coach has his own way of thinking, so let’s hope he will do better for the country.”

India’s struggles on the field have been compounded by internal disruptions. All-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement midway through the Australian series, derailing the team’s momentum at a crucial juncture. Additionally, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah suffered a back spasm during the fifth and final Test in Sydney, dashing India’s hopes of salvaging the series.

The injury has also cast doubt on Bumrah’s availability for the Champions Trophy, set to be held in Pakistan and Dubai from next month.

Kapil Dev expressed disappointment over the timing of Ashwin’s retirement announcement but praised his contribution to Indian cricket.

“Ashwin is a very strong-headed guy. It’s good to see such characters in cricketers. I felt a little sad when he left in the middle of the tour. He was a great cricketer India has produced and served the game so well, but he should have waited and done it differently. Nevertheless, what he did for the country is unbelievable,” Kapil said.

The legendary all-rounder also criticised India’s decision to field two spinners in the Sydney Test, calling it a tactical error.

Bumrah, who led India’s wicket-tally in Australia with 32 scalps in the five-Test series, was sorely missed in the final match. Without his presence, the pace attack lacked potency, failing to exploit Sydney’s conditions effectively. Kapil Dev emphasised the need for collective effort in the bowling unit.

“India’s bowling has to collectively come out and start performing. The entire team was looking up to only Bumrah. If he performed 1% less, then the whole team started to get rattled. The team management will have to build a new team and work hard to play together as a unit,” Kapil remarked, declining to comment on Bumrah’s potential captaincy.

Bumrah’s unique action and recurring injuries have fuelled debates about workload management. Kapil Dev, who revolutionised fitness in Indian cricket, defended modern players against comparisons with past generations.

“It doesn’t really make sense to compare players of different generations. These boys can’t play like Sachin [Tendulkar] or Rahul [Dravid] or Sunil Gavaskar or Don Bradman. Every generation has their own way of playing. Each one has a different body composition, they will have injuries, but over time, they have to learn how to look after themselves,” he concluded.