Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said Gautam Gambhir has a big opportunity to make a mark as the head coach of the Indian national cricket team. Afridi sounded positive about the appointment, lauding Gambhir’s ability to be ‘positive and straightforward’.

Gautam Gambhir was appointed India’s head coach (PTI Photo)

• Shahid Afridi backs ‘positive and straightforward’ Gautam Gambhir
• India named Gambhir as head coach of the senior men’s team
• Gambhir will take over as the coach during India’s tour of Sri Lanka

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said it will interesting to see how Gautam Gambhir makes use of the opportunity to coach the Indian senior national men’s team, sounding positive about his appointment. Afridi highlighted that Gambhir has been straightforward with his views and that it’s a good chance for him to make a mark in his new role.

Gautam Gambhir was appointed as the head coach of the Indian cricket team on Wednesday, July 10. The former opening batter replaced Rahul Dravid, who signed off on a high after overseeing India’s T20 World Cup triumph in the Caribbean last month.

“It’s a new opportunity, it’s good. Let’s see how he makes the most of the opportunity. I have seen a lot of his interviews. He speaks good, positive things. He is very straightforward,” Shahid Afridi told Star Sports on the sidelines of the World Championship of Legends T20 tournament in the UK.

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Only earlier this week, Afridi had called for stability in the Pakistan cricket team, urging the cricket board to give a long rope to coaches and players in leadership positions. India have had no issues in terms of the leadership group with Rohit Sharma and Dravid establishing a fine working relationship and delivering results.

Gambhir’s appointment has stoked a lot of interest in the cricket fraternity. Despite no previous experience coaching a senior team, the former India opener has the backing of the BCCI to deliver for India. Gambhir’s tactical acumen and his successful stints as the mentor of the Kolkata Knight RIders in IPL 2024 and Lucknow Super Giants in 2022 and of transition in the Indian cricket team, having earned a three-and-a-half-year contract. Rohit, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20Is after the World Cup triumph and the new head coach will be needed to find suitable replacements.

‘REALLY GOOD CRICKET BRAIN’

Gambhir’s former Knight Riders teammate Jacques Kallis, meanwhile, said he has no doubt that the former KKR captain will deliver results as the head coach of Team India. Kallis highlighted Gambhir’s aggressive attitude and said youngsters will learn a lot from the World Cup winner.

“It’s great to see Gauti getting to the coaching side of things. He has got a really good cricket brain on him. He will bring some fire, he loves playing the game aggressively. I think he will bring attention. The guys will certainly learn a lot from him,” Kallis said.

“He is going to add a lot of value to that Indian side,” he added.

Gambhir will take over as the head coach of the Indian cricket team when the Asian giants tour Sri Lanka for 3 T20Is and as many ODIs from July 26.