Gautam Gambhir's Ego “On a Different Level”: Virat Kohli Example given by former Cricketer recalling Bullying Past

Former India player Atul Wassan has accused India head coach Gautam Gambhir of arrogance and being egoistic, despite his success at the helm in ICC tournaments.

The architect of India's T20 World Cup 2026 triumph has long been known for his combative style, both as a player and now as coach. Former India cricketer Atul Wassan, who has known Gambhir since childhood, has delivered a scathing assessment of the Delhi batsman-turned-coach's character.

Wassan described Gambhir's approach as uncompromising and ego-driven, tracing it back to his early days in domestic cricket.

"I have known him personally since he was a child. I have had my issues with him. With him, it's about my way or the highway. He is like that, and he would bully a lot, even in Delhi cricket," Wassan said in an interview with Vickey Lalwani.

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He added, "His nature is like that, right from the start. He came from money, an excellent player, and he is intelligent. His ego is on a different level. He thinks that if he says it's night when it's morning, it will be believed to be night. Fall in line. If you don't fall in line, you are on my hit list. He will try to harm you, but he has achieved a lot in cricket, and his nature helped him in cricket."

Wassan argued that Gambhir's aggression was the fuel behind his on-field success but has become problematic after retirement.

"The player he became is because of his nature. He couldn't give his best unless he fought. He probably goes and fights with the window in his home. But he hasn't realised when to get off this horse, now that he's retired."

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Linking it to Gambhir's reported confrontation with star batter Virat Kohli, Wassan said, "That's why he is confronting Virat Kohli: over-aggressiveness and an alpha-male kind of personality from Delhi."

While Gambhir's methods have delivered silverware, Wassan's comments have reopened the debate about whether the coach's intense, my-way-or-the-highway style is sustainable in the long run for a national team.