Gautam Gambhir’s sharp statement: “Rohit Sharma was supported despite not getting a great start…”

The two-match Test series between India and Bangladesh starts from Thursday. gautam gambhirTeam India’s newly appointed head coach spoke about his relationship with the captain Rohit SharmaFor Gambhir, the captain is central to the team’s success, and while the coach plays an important role, the ultimate responsibility lies with the leader on the field. Gambhir believes Rohit’s leadership qualities have earned him a lot of respect in the dressing room – an essential quality for any successful leader.

“The team ultimately belongs to the captain because he leads on the field,” Gambhir told GeoCinema. “Rohit’s leadership and respect in the dressing room is very important. So, he is a great human being and he is very respected in the dressing room and that is the first and foremost quality of a leader. I think my relationship with him was great when we played together. Even then he was a great human being and hopefully it will continue like this in the future as well.”

Gambhir admitted there will always be disagreements on strategy or decision making, but he firmly believes the final decision should rest with Rohit. For Gambhir, respect and support for the captain is non-negotiable. “There will be disagreements, but the final decision will always be that of the captain,” he stressed.

Gambhir also opened up about his coaching philosophy, his close relationships with senior players and how his transition from player to mentor and now head coach has shaped his approach. Having shared the field with many of the current senior players in the team, Gambhir’s familiarity with their personalities and careers has, in his own words, made his role a little easier.

“Yes, it does help to some extent,” he said. Gambhir recalled his past playing days alongside prominent players like Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli, ravichandran ashwinAnd Jasprit BumrahHe saw each of them grow into pillars of Indian cricket.

For Gambhir, this history fosters a sense of comfort and understanding. “Rohit got the backing despite not having a great start and is now an important player. Virat has transformed Indian cricket with its fitness culture. Ashwin is dedicated to becoming the best spinner in the world and Bumrah has reached the top of world bowling. Their experiences will be very useful for the younger generation,” Gambhir said.

Gambhir is fully aware of the challenges involved in selecting a playing XI from a talented lineup. India’s bench strength is quite strong, so it is never easy to keep players out of the team. However, Gambhir believes that instead of dropping players, the focus should be on choosing the right combination to suit the needs of the team.

“Selecting just eleven players means others will have to wait for their chance,” he said. But for Gambhir, the solution lies in clear and direct communication with the players. “It’s about picking people who can best serve the needs of the team,” he said. He stressed the importance of the coach, captain and selectors being on the same page to avoid confusion or mixed messages.

This communication becomes even more important when players are left out of the squad or dropped from the team, a situation which Gambhir understands can be challenging for any player. “Understanding the vulnerability of players who are left out or dropped from the squad, we aim to provide them with the right support and communication to help them through this process,” he added.