Ashwin Praises Gambhir’s Relaxed Coaching Style, Fostering a Positive Atmosphere in Team India Dressing Room
Kanpur, 24th September 2024: Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s all-rounder, has commended the newly-appointed head coach, Gautam Gambhir, for his ‘relaxed’ approach, which Ashwin believes has created a vibrant atmosphere in the dressing room.
Ashwin played a pivotal role in India’s commanding 280-run victory in the Chennai Test against Bangladesh, scoring a century in the first innings and taking six wickets in the second.
In a YouTube discussion, Ashwin shared his thoughts on Gambhir, expressing confidence that the new coach would be well-received by both current and future team members. Gambhir took over the coaching role from Rahul Dravid, who opted not to extend his tenure after leading the team to victory in the T20 World Cup. Under Gambhir’s leadership, India had mixed results, winning the T20I series but losing the ODI series in Sri Lanka.
The Chennai Test was the opening match of India’s 10-match series for the upcoming season, providing a significant boost of confidence for Gambhir and his team. The game also saw notable contributions from others, including Ravindra Jadeja, who scored 86 runs in the first innings. Jadeja and Ashwin forged a crucial 199-run partnership, helping India recover from a challenging position of 144 for 6 to finish with a total of 376.
Reflecting on the coaching styles of Gambhir and Dravid, Ashwin appreciated the strengths of both. “I think he is very relaxed. I like to refer to him as ‘relaxed rancho.’ There’s no pressure at all. In the morning, we have a team huddle, and he’s very casual about it, inviting everyone in a laid-back manner,” Ashwin explained.
“In contrast, Rahul bhai preferred a more structured approach. He expected everything to be in order; even a bottle had to be placed at a specific spot at a precise time. He was quite regimented,” Ashwin added. “Gambhir, on the other hand, promotes a more relaxed environment. He will connect with the players and win their hearts, making him well-liked by the team.”
Ashwin also praised Rohit Sharma’s leadership, stating, “Rohit is a fantastic leader who collaborates well with everyone. His calm and composed demeanour is evident even while leading the side.”
India demonstrated their cricketing prowess, with Jasprit Bumrah’s outstanding bowling limiting Bangladesh to just 149 runs. In the second innings, valuable centuries from Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill further solidified India’s dominant position.
The second Test match against Bangladesh is set to take place in Kanpur on October 27.
