What Gautam Gambhir Said for the First Time as India Coach

Gautam Gambhir has just taken over as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. His official journey will begin with the series against Sri Lanka at the end of this month. In his first interview with Star Sports after becoming the head coach, Gambhir shared his thoughts on the Indian cricket team.

Gambhir believes that players should participate in all three formats of the game. Emphasizing injuries and workload management, he said, “Injuries are a part of a sportsman's life. Injuries can happen if one participates in all three formats. Still, one must play in all three formats. I haven't decided who will play in the Test format and who in other formats. I don't believe in such doctrines.”

Regarding playing in all three formats, Gambhir further stated, “Injuries are a part of an athlete's life. If someone plays all three types of cricket, injuries are inevitable. If injured, one has to get fit and return. Then he can play all three formats again. I don't want to designate anyone for a specific type of cricket. It can't be said that someone will only play Tests. I don't believe in a system that tries to use someone in a way that reduces pressure or prevents injury.”

Talking about the life of cricketers, Gambhir said, “A professional cricketer's career isn't very long. When he plays for the country, his goal is to play as much as possible. If someone is in good form, he should play all three formats of cricket.”

Sending a message to the Indian team’s cricketers, Gambhir said that cricket is a team game. Therefore, the team's interest will always be his priority, “I want to tell the cricketers just one thing. Play with honesty. Try to be as honest as possible as a professional. That’s how you will achieve success. When I used to bat, I never thought about the outcome. I never played thinking of myself. My goal was to score as many runs as possible. I always tried to be professionally honest. Whatever happens, happens. Actually, one needs to have some principles in life. One should live with values. One should do what feels right. Even if the whole world goes against it, one shouldn't deviate from one's principles. One must believe that what one is doing is for the team's needs and is the best.”

Gambhir also said that if one wants to play in his team, they can't prioritize personal interests, “I like to stay aggressive on the field. Many times I have gotten into arguments. I have always argued for the team's interest. The team is the last word. Therefore, I always try to do everything keeping the team's interest in mind. Cricket isn't about personal interests. Everyone should give their best to make the team win. This is necessary for a team game. One must remember, cricket is not an individual game. Therefore, playing for personal success won't work. The team comes first. The team is everything. An individual cricketer’s interest comes last.”