Former India pacer Joginder Sharma has expressed doubts about the longevity of Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team. Gambhir, who recently took over from Rahul Dravid, has shown early success, but his outspoken nature may impact his future in the role.

Early success for Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir assumed the role of head coach for the Indian team last month after Rahul Dravid's tenure concluded following the T20 World Cup in June. In his debut series as head coach, India, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, secured a 3-0 victory against Sri Lanka in the T20I series. Gambhir's leadership began on a positive note, with the team showcasing strong performances. On Friday, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned to the squad for the ODI series opener, which ended in a thrilling draw with Sri Lanka.

"Gautam Gambhir team ko sambhalne waala hai lekin par mera ye manna hai ki Gautam Gambhir jyada lambe samay tak tik nahi payega (Gautam Gambhir is the one to manage the team, but I believe that Gautam Gambhir will not be able to stay for a long time)," Joginder said on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast.

Joginder Sharma's concerns

Despite the promising start, Joginder Sharma, a former teammate and T20 World Cup-winner alongside Gambhir in 2007, expressed concerns about Gambhir’s long-term prospects as head coach. Joginder believes that Gambhir’s outspoken and no-nonsense attitude could lead to an earlier-than-expected departure. He explained that Gambhir is known for speaking his mind and not engaging in politics or pandering, which may clash with the expectations and dynamics within the team and administration.

"Kyunki Gautam Gambhir ke apne hi kuch faisle hote hain. Ho sakta hai kisi player se man motaaw ho jaye. Mai Virat Kohli ki baat nahi kar raha hun. Gautam Gambhir ke faisle kai baar aise ho jaate hain ki dusro ko pasand nahi aate (This is because Gautam Gambhir has his own decisions. It might happen that he has a disagreement with a player. I am not talking about Virat Kohli. Many times, Gautam Gambhir's decisions are such that others do not like them)," he added.

"Gautam Gambhir seedhi baat karne waala hai. Wo kisi ke paas jaane waala nahi hai. Gautam Gambhir chaplusi karne waala banda nahi hai. Usko credit dene waale hum log hain. Wo apna kaam karta hai, sacche dil se karta hai, badi imaandaari se karta hai. (Gautam Gambhir speaks directly. He is not someone who will go to anyone. Gautam Gambhir is not a person who flatters. We are the ones who give him credit. He does his work, does it sincerely, and does it with great honesty)," Joginder further explained.

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Joginder’s comments highlight the potential challenges Gambhir might face in navigating the complexities of the coaching role. While Gambhir's straightforward nature has been a hallmark of his personality, it remains to be seen how it will influence his journey as the head coach of the Indian cricket team.