R Ashwin praises Gautam Gambhir's 'relaxed' approach as head coach
Senior Indian spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, has expressed his admiration for the new head coach of the Indian cricket team, Gautam Gambhir. He particularly highlighted Gambhir's relaxed demeanor and its positive impact on the team atmosphere. "I think he is very relaxed. I want to call him 'relaxed rancho.' There's no pressure at all," Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Gambhir's journey as head coach
Gambhir assumed his role as head coach in July, during India's tour of Sri Lanka. His first Test assignment was against Bangladesh in Chennai last week, where India secured a resounding 280-run victory. Ashwin played a crucial role in this win, scoring a century and taking six wickets under Gambhir's guidance. The second Test is set to get underway on September 27 in Kanpur.
Ashwin compares coaching styles of Gambhir and Dravid
Ashwin drew comparisons between the coaching styles of Gambhir and his predecessor, Rahul Dravid. He described Dravid as more regimented, while praising Gambhir's laid-back approach. "With Rahul bhai, as soon as we come, he wanted things in order: even a bottle should be kept at a particular place at a particular time," Ashwin said. "With Gambhir, he doesn't expect all that. He has a relaxed order."
Ashwin confident about Gambhir's popularity among players
Ashwin expressed confidence that Gambhir's relaxed style would resonate well with the team. "He will be a people's man. He will capture everybody's heart. I think he will be loved by the boys," he said. Ashwin also praised Rohit Sharma's leadership skills, describing him as calm and composed leader who works well with everyone on the team.
Gambhir's coaching journey post-Dravid's tenure
Gambhir took over as head coach after Dravid decided not to reapply for the position, following India's T20 World Cup victory. His initial assignment yielded mixed results with India winning the T20I series but losing the ODI series in Sri Lanka. However, the recent Test match against Bangladesh has boosted confidence among Gambhir and his support staff.
