India’s all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin commended newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir for his “relaxed” approach, which has fostered a lively atmosphere in the dressing room. Ashwin praised the former India opener, expressing confidence that Gambhir would be well-liked by the current squad and future players.
Ashwin’s comments on his YouTube channel followed his first experience working with Gambhir during the Chennai Test against Bangladesh. The star spinner had a remarkable performance in his hometown, scoring a century in the first innings and taking six wickets in the second, leading India to a resounding 280-run win.
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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin contrasted the coaching styles of Gambhir and his predecessor, Rahul Dravid, while appreciating the effectiveness of both. “I think he is very relaxed. I want to call him ‘relaxed rancho’. There’s no pressure at all. In the morning, there will be a team huddle. He is very relaxed about that as well. He will be like ‘are you coming, please come’. It’s like that,” Ashwin said.
He also highlighted Dravid’s more structured approach: “With Rahul bhai, as soon as we come, he wanted things in order: even a bottle should be kept at a particular place at a particular time. He is very regimented. He wanted things in order.”
In contrast, Ashwin noted Gambhir’s more flexible attitude: “With Gambhir, he doesn’t expect all that. He has a relaxed order. He will be a people’s man. He will capture everybody’s heart. I think he will be loved by the boys.”
Ashwin also lauded captain Rohit Sharma’s leadership, stating, “Also, Rohit is a very good leader who works well with everybody. Even when he is leading the side, we can see that. He is very calm and composed as a leader.”
Gambhir stepped in as Team India’s head coach after Rahul Dravid’s tenure concluded following India’s T20 World Cup victory. Dravid chose not to reapply for the position, and the BCCI appointed Gambhir as his successor in June. Gambhir’s debut assignment saw mixed outcomes, with India winning the T20I series but losing the ODI series in Sri Lanka.
The Chennai Test, the first of India’s 10-match run for the upcoming season, gave Gambhir and his coaching staff a much-needed confidence boost. Ashwin’s standout performance, along with Ravindra Jadeja’s resilient 86 in the first innings, helped India recover from a shaky 144 for 6 to post a commanding 376, thanks to their 199-run partnership.
India continued their dominance with Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional bowling, dismissing Bangladesh for 149. In the second innings, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, both returning to the team, scored centuries, further cementing India’s position.
Ashwin’s praise for Gambhir, combined with the positive outcomes from the Chennai Test, signals a promising start to India’s upcoming season.
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