'He plays to win': Childhood coach Bharadwaj on Gautam Gambhir's role as India's head coach

Newlyappointed Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has the ability to derive the best out of players when the chips are down and his affinity to take up challenges head on can make winning a habit for the national team feels his childhood coach Sanjay BharadwajGambhir the World Cupwinning former opener was given the reins of the India team on Tuesday He replaced former Team India head coach Rahul Dravid whose tenure ended with the countrys title win in the T20 World Cup in Barbados last monthGautam has the quality to bring the best out of his players The job of a top coach is precisely that Gauti knows his players well and can bring the best out of them using them effectivelyI feel as a coach he has the capability to take India to the pinnacle He can do the job honestly without any bias and bring the best to Indian cricket The ODI World Cup title which has eluded us for the last 13 years would now start coming Bhardwaj told PTI Videos on WednesdayBharadwaj who has also produced cricketers such as Amit Mishra Unmukt Chand and Nitish Rana besides several Ranji players from Delhi added that Gambhir has the ability to take up any challenge and succeed in his endeavourHe always played with a challenge Since he was 10 he had the winners mentality He always played to win He never thought that he could lose a match He was never in doubtGauti always had a sharp and astute observation power Gautam has the ability to take up any challenge and then succeed in it the veteran coach said about Gambhir who played a crucial role in India lifting the ODI World Cup in 2011 under Mahendra Singh DhoniAlso ReadGambhir ascends to crickets ivory tower vows to banish noballs with his glareBharadwaj added that Gambhir had predicted Rohit Sharmas resurgence when the India captain was going through a lean patch in his early daysHe has played with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the past Long back he had once given his Man of the Match to Virat That shows his golden heart He told me long back that Rohit Sharma will become a great player one day This was when Rohit was not among the runs and needed some encouragement His observation about Rohit proved accurate he saidBharadwaj added that Gambhir would always stick to his decision if he feels it is rightIf Gautam ever feels that something is right for the team he will be firm on that decision Gautam plays to win He knows what to do and focusses on having a set team combination He doesnt believe in favouritism the only thing that is his favourite is cricketBharadwaj said Gambhir went by instincts and backed Kuldeep Yadav and Navdeep Saini the two key players for KKR in IPL 2024He could pick players like Kuldeep Yadav and Navdeep Saini in the India team setup They are his product He also followed his instincts on West Indian allrounder Sunil Narine during IPL 2024 His observation and cricketing acumen were always outstanding he addedGambhir has been a part of two successful World Cup campaigns in T20 World Cup in 2007 and in ODI World Cup in 2011 and Bharadwajs advice to his ward is be honest in your approachWith his batting he won two World Cups for India in 2007 and 2011 As a player you helped India win two World Cups then propelled KKR to three IPL titles You have a habit of taking up challenges and conquering them be honest in your approach and repay the countrys faith in you he saidWith agency inputs