Former Indian cricketer Manaf Patel The head coach of the men’s cricket team has supported. Gautam GambhirStating that if he is removed as head coach, it will be difficult to manage the players, he added that many people do not like Gambhir because he is a real person.Speaking on TOI Sports’ Bombay Sport Exchange Podcast, Manaf said, “Just remember, if a head coach like Gautam Gambhir is removed, it will be very difficult to manage the players. He is a real person, he speaks the truth and a lot of people don’t like him”. Gambhir has won three major titles during his tenure so far – Champions Trophy, Asia Cup and T20 World Cup. However, India’s results in Test cricket during his tenure have drawn criticism and questions over his position.
However, Munaf, who was part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team, said Gambhir’s presence was crucial to maintaining control within the team.“Gambir is the only one who is handling the players today. Apart from him, the players will not handle other coaches. Because he is still scared – because he loves cricket, not money. You will never see him fighting for money. He does not need money, nor has he ever,” Manaf said on TOI Sports’ Bombay Sport Exchange.“I am saying, Gambhir is a true man. He speaks the truth. Many people do not like him because he speaks to his face. There is no deception in his mind.”Senior players love it. Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma has been a key figure in world cricket for over a decade, having previously coached under Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid.Gambhir took charge in July 2024 at a time when the team was entering a transition phase. More than a year into his tenure, concerns over performances in Test cricket led to talks about Kohli and Rohit’s future in the format and both retired from Tests after losing the Border-Gavaskar series in 2024–25.Patel said Gambhir had the “guts” to drop players. “If Gambhir quits after three years, you will see things fall apart. Because he can be in control. Absolutely – he has a complete controlling system. And everyone knows that if something goes wrong, he has the guts to let the players go,” Manaf added.The former Indian bowler even said that a coach “shouldn’t be a friend.” “The coach has to be in control. He can’t be a friend. If he is, you are screwing up the system. There has to be fear,” added Patel while speaking on TOI Sports’ Bombay Sport Exchange Podcast.“Think about it – how many enemies Gautam Gambhir is making by doing this. In the commentary panel, 8 out of 10 people are against him. 4 out of 5 selectors will be against him. But still, he does his job,” Manaf Patel added.
