Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has come to the defense of Team India coach Gautam Gambhir in response to the criticism he has faced.
Under Gambhir’s leadership, India faced significant losses, including a 0-3 defeat at home against New Zealand experienced their first Test series loss in twelve years, suffering a 0-3 defeat, followed by a 1-3 loss to Australia, which caused them to lose the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in ten years.
Following the recent Border-Gavaskar Test series, reports from The Indian Express have highlighted tensions within the dressing room. After India lost seven wickets in just 20.4 overs, conceding the Melbourne Test to Australia, Gambhir addressed the entire squad with some firm remarks.
There are rumors that some senior players are unhappy with Gambhir’s coaching approach. His style has drawn comparisons to that of Greg Chappell, who experienced a well-known fallout with senior Indian cricketers during his time as coach.
“I believe his coaching style is not at all like Greg Chappell’s,” Robin Uthappa shared during an interview with Lallantop.
“I completely disagree with that. I’ve never met anyone as straightforward as Gauti.
“He is very direct. You might not always appreciate what he says, but he will definitely tell you the truth to your face, and I really admire people like that.”
“I believe these people enjoy a fulfilling life. They say what’s on their minds, and that’s all you really need. What you see is what you get, which is much better than someone pretending to be different behind your back.
“I really value honesty, and Gauti is quite straightforward.”
Discussing his chemistry with Surya, Uthappa explained why Gautam Gambhir is succeeding in T20Is. He noted that Gambhir has a strong grip on the team and is playing a key role in helping Suryakumar Yadav grow as a leader.
“He prefers to be in control, and since joining the team after the World Cup, he has been building connections with a variety of leaders. You have SKY, Rohit, and then Hardik leading the ODI side, although it’s still Rohit, my mistake.”
“At the moment, he needs to adapt to various styles, particularly in T20Is where he has full control. He’s steering the team and helping SKY develop as a leader, which gives him the freedom to grow,” he said.
Regarding his relationship with Rohit, Uthappa emphasized that Gautam has always expressed deep respect for Rohit Sharma, both as a captain and a cricketer, during his press conferences.
“They’re likely trying to understand the dynamics of their relationship. It hasn’t fully developed yet. With Bumrah, who was leading his first Test, the chemistry seemed stronger.
“Some connections happen rapidly, while others require time to strengthen. It’s not that the chemistry is missing; it’s evident in Gambhir’s interviews that he has a lot of respect and admiration for Rohit.
“Sometimes, relationships need time to mature, especially since both are leaders with their own individual approaches.”
