Gautam Gambhir's New Role as Head Coach: A Contemporary Mentor

Former India captain Ravi Shastri believes Gautam Gambhir will thrive in his new role as head coach, thanks to his contemporary approach and close relationship with the players. Managing player workload, especially bowlers, and finding replacements for retired stalwarts will be among Gambhir's top challenges.

Former India captain Ravi Shastri expects Gautam Gambhir to flourish in his new role as head coach, describing him as a 'contemporary' mentor who has taken over a relatively 'mature and settled' team.

Shastri, a former India coach, believes the 42-year-old Gambhir can make an immediate impact because of his close relationships with the players. Gambhir had a successful stint as a team mentor for Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. 'He's contemporary, he just had a great season in the IPL. I think he's the right age where he's young and comes with fresh ideas. He knows most of the players, especially in the white-ball format,' Shastri said on The ICC Review.

Managing player workload, especially for bowlers, will be Gambhir's biggest challenge according to Shastri. Gambhir's first assignment as India coach is the white-ball series in Sri Lanka starting with a three-match T20 series. With stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retiring from T20s, finding replacements will be crucial. 'There’s so much talent, it’s just about getting the right mix,' Shastri added.