Former India player Mohammad Kaif said that current head coach Gautam Gambhir has the skills and ability to solve batters’ below-par performances against the spinners, especially in red-ball cricket. The willow holders were found wanting against the New Zealand and South Africa spinners but showed some improvement in the Test series in Sri Lanka.
India will be competing in a two-Test bilateral assignment against New Zealand next month before hosting Australia for five red-ball games. Gambhir will have to play a key role in the team’s preparations ahead of the challenging schedule.
Mohammad Kaif recalled how Gautam Gambhir faced tough times right from his early days in domestic cricket and mentioned how he backs his players.
“If he finds out that a player is talented and includes him in the playing XI, then he backs a player till the end. He backed several players when he was a captain in Ranji Trophy. Even when the entire DDCA was not in favour of his decisions, he refused to back down and stood with the players. The list is big,” Mohammad Kaif said on Cricbuzz.
“You can debate whether he is wrong or right. You can discuss whether he is a nice guy or not. These are different topics, but if he has made up his mind about a player, the player will play. The way our batters are struggling against the spinners, there is no better person than Gambhir, who can guide the young cricketers,” he added.
Gautam Gambhir has been under the scanner for ignoring specialist bowlers and preferring all-rounders to strengthen the batting unit.
The matches in the ongoing IND vs WI five-game T20I series have been high-scoring, and Gambhir questioned the nature of the wickets, saying it would destroy the careers of the bowlers. He called for better pitches so that the bowlers can test the batters.
“They are our bowlers, not someone else’s bowlers. Their careers are at stake. They have worked hard to be in the team. If the competition is even, we will see a better game of cricket,” Gambhir said.
The Indian bowlers have been under the pump, with batters making full use of the favourable conditions.