Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir shared a cryptic message on social media after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor praised him publicly. The exchange happened after India’s strong win over New Zealand in the first T20I in Nagpur.
Shashi Tharoor met Gambhir in Nagpur, where the opening T20I was played. India defeated New Zealand by 48 runs in that match. Abhishek Sharma played a fiery knock. The bowlers also delivered a strong team performance.
After the meeting, Tharoor shared a picture with Gambhir on X. He praised the former cricketer and spoke highly about the pressure of his role as head coach.
“In Nagpur, enjoyed a good &frank discussion with my old friend @GautamGambhir, the man with the hardest job in India after the PM’s! He is being second-guessed by millions daily but stays calm &walks on undaunted. A word of appreciation for his quiet determination and able leadership. Wishing him all success – starting today! #INDvNZT20,” wrote Tharoor on X.
Gambhir replied with a message that caught attention. His words hinted at the challenges faced by coaches and the debate around their authority.
“Thanks a lot Dr @ShashiTharoor! When the dust settles, truth & logic about a coach’s supposedly “unlimited authority” will become clear. Till then I’m amused at being pitted against my own who are the very best!,” Gambhir replied.
Mixed Results Under Gautam Gambhir’s Coaching
Gautam Gambhir’s time as India’s head coach has seen both success and setbacks. In T20 cricket, India have performed very well. The team won the Asia Cup. They are also unbeaten in bilateral T20I series so far. This has made India strong favourites for the T20 World Cup starting on February 7.
In Test cricket, results have been mixed. India drew the series 2-2 in England under Shubman Gill’s captaincy. They also won home series against Bangladesh and the West Indies. However, India suffered rare home defeats. They were whitewashed by New Zealand in 2024 and by South Africa last year.
In ODIs, the record has been uneven. India won the ICC Champions Trophy under Rohit Sharma. But the team also lost away series in Sri Lanka and Australia. Recently, India lost a home ODI series to New Zealand. It was New Zealand’s first ODI series win in India.
