Rishabh Pant compares coaching styles of Rahul Dravid, Gautam Gambhir
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has drawn a comparison between the coaching styles of current head coach Gautam Gambhir and his predecessor Rahul Dravid. In a recent interview, Pant described Dravid as a more balanced individual both personally and professionally. He also expressed his enthusiasm about working under Gambhir's guidance, who assumed the role in July 2024. Here are further details.
Pant's insights on Dravid's balanced approach
Pant shared his insights during a Duleep Trophy match for India B, led by Abhimanyu Easwaran. The seasoned wicketkeeper-batter emphasized the importance of maintaining balance in both victories and defeats. "I feel Rahul bhai was very balanced as a human being and as a coach," Pant told JioCinema. He further added that their journey as a cricket team had its ups and downs, which depended on the individuals in charge to either focus on positives or negatives.
Gambhir's aggressive coaching style
Pant also highlighted Gambhir's more aggressive approach toward coaching. "Gauti bhai is more aggressive, he is very one-sided about the fact that we have to win," Pant said. He stressed the need for finding balance in international cricket and constantly improving. Pant was part of India's tour of Sri Lanka in July - Gambhir's first assignment as head coach of the senior national men's team.
Gambhir's coaching journey and future challenges
Gambhir's coaching journey began on a high note with a 3-0 victory over Sri Lanka in the T20I series, marking the start of Suryakumar Yadav's leadership in the shortest format. However, the subsequent ODI series posed a greater challenge as India faced a 0-2 setback. Looking ahead, Gambhir is set to face a rigorous Test season with the senior national team playing as many as 10 Tests between September and January.
Pant's outlook on upcoming cricket challenges
Pant asserted that India will not underestimate any opponent and will focus on enhancing their strengths in the coming months. This statement comes as Bangladesh prepares for a historic Test series win in Pakistan. "As the Indian cricket team, we focus solely on our own standards and how we can improve," he said. Despite a disappointing performance in his recent match, Pant is likely to rejoin the Test squad for the upcoming series.
