Today I will try to explore, Gautam Gambhir vs Rahul Dravid Coaching Styles. So, lets take a look at the changes that Gautam Gambhir can bring in team India.
Earlier, Rahul Dravid was coaching team India, he ended his coaching tenure on a high as India won the T20I World Cup 2024 by defeating South Africa in a thrilling final at Barbados. With this title win, Team India ended there 10 years drought of an ICC trophy.
Captain Rohit Sharma and Ex-coach Rahul Dravid with the world cup Trophy
So, it’s official now—Gautam Gambhir has taken over as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team from Rahul Dravid as of Tuesday, July 9. For those who might not be fully aware, Gambhir has been a key figure in Indian cricket, having played a pivotal role in India’s victories in the 2007 T20 and 2011 ODI World Cups. His match-winning performances in the finals are still fresh in the minds of cricket fans. Additionally, Gambhir led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, and this year, he mentored the team to another triumph.
On the flip side, Rahul Dravid took the reins of a strong Indian unit at the end of 2021 and kept the team at the top of its game across all formats. Under Dravid’s guidance, India reached the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC) and ODI World Cup last year, and also clinched the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.
Looking at the careers of Gambhir and Dravid, it’s clear they have very different approaches and styles, even though their ultimate goal is the same—to elevate Indian cricket to new heights. While it’s difficult to predict exactly how Gambhir will handle his new role and what strategies he will employ, we can certainly expect some significant differences from Dravid’s tenure.
Here are three things I believe Gambhir might do differently as India’s head coach.
#1 Focus on Winning Trophies Over Winning People
First off, let’s talk about Gambhir’s focus. From what we’ve seen of him over the years, he is very vocal about his disdain for the ‘star culture’ in Indian cricket. He’s made it clear that for him, winning is everything, and perceptions don’t matter much.
In a YouTube chat with Ravichandran Ashwin, Gambhir said:
“Sometimes when people talk about – he doesn’t smile. He doesn’t love. He’s always intense. He’s always grumpy. He’s always walking on the edge. He’s old. He always has his game face on. People don’t come to watch me smile. Unfortunately, people come to watch me win.”
Compare this to Rahul Dravid, who, while equally determined to win, also valued building relationships and being well-liked. Dravid once said in an interview:
“As a coach at the end of the day my job is to help the captain deliver his vision, his philosophy of how he wants the team to play. I don’t really like talking about results. I like to believe that coaching is not just about coaching cricket. This is about building connections with the people and creating the right environment that allows for success.”
This difference in philosophy is striking. While Dravid focused on building a supportive environment and fostering relationships, Gambhir seems to be more about the results and winning at any cost. This might mean we see a more ruthless approach under Gambhir, with less emphasis on being liked and more on getting the job done.
#2 Selection Based on Form Over Reputation
Another area where we might see a change is in team selection. Under Dravid, there was a tendency to bring back big names based on their reputation, even if their recent form was questionable. Take the case of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Despite not playing T20Is for India since their semi-final loss in the 2022 T20 World Cup until the end of 2023, they were brought back for the 2024 T20 World Cup. While this move ultimately paid off, it did raise questions about the younger players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, who had been part of the T20I lineup for most of 2023 but didn’t get a game in the tournament.
Gambhir, known for his no-nonsense attitude, is likely to place a higher value on current form rather than past reputation. This could mean more opportunities for in-form players, regardless of their seniority or past records. It’s an approach that might seem harsh but could keep the team dynamic and competitive.
#3 Highlighting Unsung Heroes Alongside Superstars
One of the most memorable moments in the IPL was when Gambhir, after leading KKR to a thrilling win over Chennai Super Kings in 2012, handed his Player of the Match award to Debabrata Das for his crucial cameo. Gambhir said:
“My MoM (Man of the Match) is Debabrata Das, to be honest, it’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. He is a star in the making, one to look out for.”
This gesture exemplifies Gambhir’s appreciation for the unsung heroes. While Dravid was often seen as an underdog himself, he wasn’t as expressive in acknowledging the blue-collar cricketers in the team. Gambhir, on the other hand, is likely to ensure that players like Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh get their due recognition, sometimes even more than the top-order batters who score centuries.
Under Gambhir’s leadership, expect the smaller contributions from lower-order batters and bowlers to be celebrated just as much as the big performances. For instance, a crucial cameo like Dube’s 16-ball 27 in the recent T20 World Cup final might be highlighted alongside Kohli’s 76 or Bumrah and Pandya’s heroics.
The transition from Dravid to Gambhir as India’s head coach is bound to bring a shift in focus and strategy. Gambhir’s emphasis on winning at all costs, selecting players based on form rather than reputation, and recognizing the contributions of unsung heroes could lead to a more aggressive and merit-based approach. While this might ruffle some feathers, it could also drive the team to new heights.
As a fan, I’m excited to see how this new chapter unfolds. Change is always accompanied by a sense of uncertainty, but it also brings the potential for great success. Here’s hoping Gambhir’s tenure as head coach will be marked by many more victories and memorable moments for Indian cricket.
