Test captain Rohit Sharma is banking on his good understanding with former teammate Gautam Gambhir who has now taken charge of India as its head coach to forge a successful relationship as the team embarks on a new journey with a fresh support staff in tow. Gambhir took over from Rahul Dravid with whom Rohit combined to guide India into the finals of three global events including the World Test Championship, ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup.
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Dravid signed off on a high with India winning the T20 World Cup earlier this year after coming agonsingly close to winning the WTC and ODI WC within the space of a few months in 2023. Gambhir, who won two world cup as a player, therefore has big shoes to fill.
Barring the fielding coach – T Dillip – the coaching staff has fresh faces led by Gambhir, Abhishek Nayar (assistant coach), Morne Morkel (bowling coach) and Ryan ten Doeschate (assistant coach).
“Obviously, Rahul bhai, Vikram Rathour (former batting coach) and Paras Mhambrey (former bowling coach) were a different team and it is only acceptable that the new support staff will bring different perspective,” Rohit said ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh.
The white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in July-August was the first under Gambhir with India winning the T20I series and losing the ODI series that followed.
“But the matches that we engaged in (with the new staff) in Sri Lanka, they seemed to be sensible and understanding. They began to learn things pretty quickly within the team,” Rohit said.
Rohit has played long enough to know that every coach brings has a different mindset and style and he’s expecting the same from Gambhir and co.
“It’s a new (support) staff for sure, but I have known Gautam Gambhir and Abhishek Nayar long enough. Every support staff has its operating style, and that’s what we were expecting,” Rohit said.
“I have worked with different coaches over 17 years of my career, and it’s vital to understand that all of them have a unique perspective (about cricket), and it’s a must that you adjust with them,” he added.
Rohit further added that there haven’t been any issues thus far between the players and the coaching staff. “I have also played matches against Morne Morkel and Ryan ten Doeschate. I have some close encounters with Morkel, but not so much with Ryan, may be a couple of matches. But that doesn’t matter. As of now, there have been no issues or problems as such (with the new set of support staff). We have a great understanding of each other,” he said.
“Good understanding is important, and I have that with them,” he added on his dynamics with the new head coach and his team.
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