“Even today he is like an innocent kid”- Gautam Gambhir’s childhood coach on India’s new head coach

India’s newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir’s childhood coach Sanjay Bhardwaj has opened up on his ward’s fighting spirit. Bhardwaj recalled how Gambhir hated losing when he was only 12-year-old and often carried when his team lost the game.

Gambhir is known to take the bull by its horns and always takes the aggressive approach. The former Indian opener also admitted in his interview that he hates losing and he becomes grumpy when he losses. Gambhir said he always wants to come back into a happy dressing room.

Sanjay Bhardwaj said via the Hindustan Times, “Even today he is like an innocent kid. He has no malice. He is like a 12-year-old kid. People think he is arrogant, but that is his attitude towards winning. I used to make him play matches after nets and he would cry after losing matches. He did not like losing even back then. So, a person with a true personality like him will obviously remain serious.”

Bhardwaj highlighted that Gambhir’s focus as India’s head coach will not be on technical aspects but it will be on tactical planning.

“Gautam Gambhir will not go after the technical aspects. Because at that level, there is not need for technical improvement. You are there because you are good enough technically. What Gambhir will work on is the tactical aspects. Gambhir’s job will be to boost morale and inject confidence into a player who may not to too sure about himself.”

Gambhir played the role of mentor for Lucknow Super Giants and took the team to playoffs in consecutive editions of the IPL in 2022 and 2023. The former Indian opener also led KKR to glory in IPL 2024 as a mentor.

Gambhir won his maiden T20I series as India’s head coach as they defeated Sri Lanka by 3-0.