Rohit: "He was a khadoos kind of a player" - Rohit Sharma on India's head coach Gautam Gambhir

Team India's Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma has described head coach Gautam Gambhir as a 'khadoos' (stubborn) cricketer, who played some great innings under tough circumstances. The word 'khadoos' is often associated with cricketers from Mumbai who are traditionally considered strong-willed.

Gambhir took over as Team India's head coach from Rahul Dravid. The latter's stint came to an end after the Men in Blue's victorious 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. With Gambhir as coach, India won the T20I series in Sri Lanka 3-0 but went down 2-0 in the one-dayers. Team India are currently 1-0 up in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh at home.

Sharing his thoughts on the former India opener, Test and one-day skipper Rohit recently said (as quoted by NDTV):

"We have seen a chance in coaching. Earlier, Rahul bhai was there. Now, Gautam Gambhir is our coach. He was a khadoos (stubborn) kind of a player. He played some great innings in tough matches."

Expand Tweet

Gambhir top-scored with 75 when India won the 2007 T20 World Cup final against Pakistan in Johannesburg. He was also the top-scorer for India in the 2011 ODI World Cup final against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The southpaw scored a defiant 97 off 122 balls, lifting the Men in Blue after the early losses of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar.

Speaking about the Test format, he occupied the crease for 643 minutes, facing 436 balls for his 137 to help India draw a Test against New Zealand in Napier in 2009 after they were made to follow on. VVS Laxman also contributed an unbeaten 124 off 212 balls in the same innings.

"Let India have a bad game, then we will see what comes out" - Tamim Iqbal on Gambhir's character as coach

While Gambhir is known as a mentally tough character, Bangladesh cricketer Tamim Iqbal feels it is too early to pass judgment on him as a coach. Tamim opined that his character will be put to the test when India have a poor match.

"When you're winning, you don't know the real character of the man. It's only when you lose a series, then you lose another, that the real character comes out. No doubt, he is a capable man, but it's too early. Let India have a bad game, then we will see what comes out," Tamim was quoted as telling JioCinema.