Team India will embark on a new journey this month with Gautam Gambhir as their new head coach. After Rahul Dravid’s highly successful tenure came to an end last month, the former India opener has replaced him as the new head coach.
Just like his predecessor Rahul Dravid, Gautam Gambhir has also joined the Indian team as a head coach without the experience of coaching an international or state team. However, Dravid had served as the head coach of India and India U-19 teams.
He had also served as an interim head coach for India’s limited-overs series in Sri Lanka in 2021 before taking charge of the team permanently. On the other hand, Gautam Gambhir has only served as a mentor in the IPL so far although he has made a big impact.
In 2022 and 2023, he was with Lucknow Super Giants and helped the newcomers make it to the playoffs in both seasons. In 2024, LSG failed to progress to the playoffs after parting ways with Gambhir. The former India batsman was the mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders this year and helped them win the IPL title after a gap of 10 years.
One Indian player who has seen Gambhir’s working method as a coach from close quarters is fast bowler Avesh Khan. The right-arm pacer was a part of the LSG team in 2022 and 2023 when Gambhir was the mentor and he has opened up on what makes the legendary batsman a ‘team coach’. He explained that Gambhir has a winning mentality and motivates the players to give their 100 percent each time.
Avesh Khan opens up on Gautam Gambhir
“Whatever I have learned from him, it is about the mindset that you should always look to get the better of your opponent and give your 100 percent,” Avesh Khan told BCCI ahead of India’s fourth T20I against Zimbabwe.
“In team meetings, as well as one-on-ones, he would speak less but would convey his point as to what is to be done. He would assign tasks and roles to players and he has always been a ‘team coach’, he always wants to win and everyone to give their 100 percent,” he added.
He is once in a generation bowler: Avesh Khan
During the same interview, Avesh Khan also talked about India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, and hailed him as a generational bowler. The young pacer explained how Bumrah always focuses on executing the plans and urges his teammates to do the same as well.
“Like Virat bhai said, he is a once-in-a-generation bowler, it is true and we all believe so. His style of bowling and his mindset are different, but the main (thing) is his execution, for which we all practice,” said Avesh.
“Whenever I speak with him, he tells me to focus on the execution. If you are thinking of sending down a yorker, then it has to be a yorker; it cannot be a full toss or a half volley, a bouncer has to be on the shoulders; a length ball has to be (aimed at) the top of off (stump),” he added.
Avesh is currently in Zimbabwe for the ongoing five-match T20I series. In 3 games, he has picked up 6 wickets and is the joint-leading wicket-taker in the series. India are currently leading the series 2-1 and will be looking to wrap it up by winning the fourth game on Saturday (July 13).