Mohammad Kaif Heaps Praises VVS Laxman, Backs His Old-School Coaching Approach

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has subtly criticized regular head coach Gautam Gambhir while heaping praise on VVS Laxman for his straightforward and traditional approach to team selection during India's recent tour of Zimbabwe.

In stark contrast, a young Indian squad under the guidance of stand-in coach VVS Laxman currently the head of the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) comfortably whitewashed Zimbabwe 3-0 in a T20I series.

While analyzing the differing fortunes of the two squads, Kaif pinpointed a key difference in their coaching styles. Gambhir has frequently faced criticism for sacrificing a frontline bowler to accommodate an extra all-rounder at the number eight position, often unbalancing the side. Laxman, however, stuck to the basics.

"What VVS Laxman did brilliantly in Zimbabwe was backing a traditional combination: seven proper batsmen and four proper bowlers," Kaif stated. "He didn't overly rely on finding an all-rounder for the number eight spot just for the sake of it. He backed his playing XI clearly. When a new coach comes in, winning the easy matches is expected, but the pressure builds during these tough overseas tours."

Kaif's assessment highlighted that while defeating Zimbabwe might be considered an expected outcome, the clarity in Laxman's thought process stood out. On the other hand, the pressure on Gambhir has visibly mounted following failures against tougher opposition where the team composition looked muddled.

The Captain's Role and the Road Ahead

However, the former middle-order batter made it clear that the blame cannot rest solely on the head coach's shoulders. Kaif emphasized that the captain also plays a massive role in the team's on-field execution.

"I want to focus less on the coaches and more on the captain. The coach will guide the team, but a captain's tenure can last 10-12 years. I want to see how Shubman Gill motivates his players and handles the team when the chips are down. He showed great leadership qualities by building and leading his IPL team, the Gujarat Titans. He is young, but he has the potential to be a long-term leader for India," Kaif said.

As the debate over India's coaching methods continues, Laxman's successful "old-school" approach in Zimbabwe has certainly sparked a conversation about whether the national team needs to stop over-strategising and return to a traditional playing combination.