Gautam Gambhir at press conference (Source: PTI)
Dear Gambhir,
The day you were appointed as Team India’s head coach in July, I knew it would be more challenging for you than it ever could have been. I am not sure about what thought process went to your mind once the BCCI offered you the role to replace the maestro Rahul Dravid, but one thing I can say with all confidence is that you, even in your nightmares, have never anticipated that this is how your first four month’s portfolio would look like.
An ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka, and now a shambolic 0-3 Test whitewash at home against New Zealand—an unwanted feat that never happened under any head coach’s tenure. I know you’re facing the heat now, but this is bound to happen if you don’t do your homework properly.
Let's put the facts first. There is no denying that you understand cricket more than a thousand times better than I understand, but the problem is that this is a country of 1.45 billion people, and all they want is success. They can make you famous and a millionaire and tear you apart when you’re low on confidence—this is how the process goes. Fair and square.
You’re not the face of Indian cricket; you never were, not even close. During your cricket career as a player and a coach, there was MS Dhoni in the past, and Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are present. Even if you did tremendously well so far as India's head coach, you won’t have gotten much credit. However, don't expect to get much backing if things go south like they are currently going.
If you were a good boy, you might have had that. In fact, you maintained a no-holds-barred personality while working as a commentator and expert. Hence, there is little chance the others will not go hard on you. I won't say it's your fault, but it is what it is.
As an avid KKR fan, I found it difficult to accept that you would leave the franchise just after helping them to clinch their third title in an utterly dominant way. No one saw it coming, considering how lacklustre they were in all departments in the past few seasons. However, the country comes first before everything else, and the head coach job is a perfect opportunity for you to show the world your actual worth. In fact, this position can potentially turn you from the country’s villain to a hero.
Alas! The entire India is not Kolkata, where people love you unconditionally. You know the fact, and call the city your second home. People from the city had backed you when you were at your lowest, but people across the country won’t do the same. Even when their so-called heroes are failing one after another, they will pinpoint you for all the failures. Again, it is what it is.
It's time for a wake-up call, Gambhir. Having followed you for so long, I know your competitive attitude makes you thrive. However, there is a massive difference between coaching a club and a country; you have to understand that. The sooner, the better for all your hardcore followers, such as me. You have to deal with things in a not-so-simple way.
As we all know, a team of solid coaching staff that has built a relationship by working together in the past is always a plus for any side, irrespective of any sport. Gambhir has a few in Morne Morkel, Abhishek Nayar, and Ryan ten Doeschate, but even you know they are insufficient for this duty.
These people can give you good results in the shortest format, as the examples were evident in the T20I series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. However, you need more experienced and calm-headed people in your team to guide the players properly. They can’t go above and beyond; they must listen to the coaching staff about what is in demand in each format, and you need such personalities in your dressing room.
The journey has not begun according to plan. Nothing comes as perfect. However, if we don’t take precautionary measures despite seeing results, we only have ourselves to blame. I know you, Gambhir. I know you tend to be arrogant, and that formula has given you impressive success. But please, I beg you, you need to think a little more about this before things go far away for regaining control.
I’m still rooting for you, Gauti. I’m confident you will prove everyone wrong in days to come.
Love and respect,
A huge fan
.jpg?type=mq)
.jpg?type=mq "Rohit Sharma not sure for India's first Test")
.jpg?type=mq "Rohit admits his failures")
 "Ritam")
