Gautam Gambhir pays tribute to predecessor Rahul Dravid in classy fashion without taking his name

Add as a preferred source on Google

Gautam Gambhir while addressing his first press conference as the head coach of the Indian cricket team paid a subtle tribute to his predecessor whose stint finished after India's campaign at the T20 World Cup 2024.

Gambhir, who also played under Rahul Dravid during his 13-year career, admitted he did not want to make too many changes given India's recent success and added that the key to that is to start by building trust.

"It is very simple, it is important to give players freedom - that's what I believe in - and not have a relationship of a head coach and a player. The best relationship is one built on trust. The most important thing is they'll always have my backing," Gambhir said in the press conference in Mumbai on Monday, July 22.

The former India opener also admitted that he was taking over a very successful team which even won the T20 World Cup 2024 recently. Under Rahul Dravid, India reached the semi-final of T20 World Cup 2022, WTC final in 2023, World Cup final in 2023, became the Asia Cup Champions in 2023 and then won the T20 World Cup.

"I don't complicate too many things. I am taking over a very, very successful team - India are T20 world champions, have been runners-up in the World Test Championship and the 50-overs World Cup."

The two-time World Cup-winning cricketer once again endorsed his belief that 'a winning dressing room is a happy dressing room'. He asserted that it was the role of the support staff to keep the players happy under immense pressure of international cricket.

"My learning has been simple - it has been all about winning. I don't deviate from something. We are in a profession where there can be only one winner. We try and play fair, we try and play hard, and try and come back in a winning dressing room and a happy dressing room.

"A happy dressing room is a winning dressing room. Ultimately, it is the players' team. The support staff is there to try and get the maximum out of their potential.

"Sometimes international cricket can be tough, it can be insecure as well, because only 15 can be picked. It is the job of support staff to keep them happy."

India's T20I series begins on July 27 in Pallekele. The series will be followed by a three-match ODI series which will also see the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in action.