
Former Australia skipper Tim Paine thinks that Gautam Gambhir isn't a good fit as a coach for the Indian cricket team. The comments come as both sides get ready for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which gets underway in less than a week's time. Paine also cited Ravi Shastri's example to support his argument. It was under Shastri that India won their last two Test series in Australia.
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“Their last two series wins out here they had Ravi Shastri who was fantastic. He created a great environment, the players were energised, they played with passion, he sold them the dream and motivated them in a really light-hearted enjoyable way," Paine said while talking on SEN Radio.
“They (India) have gone to a new coach now that is really prickly, really competitive -- and that not to say that's not a good thing and a good way to coach -- but my concern is that it's not a great fit for the Indian cricket team.
“If your coach is the first one to crack in a press conference after being asked a simple question, it could be a really long summer for Gautam Gambhir if India don't get off to a good start on Perth,” he added.
Gambhir, after 0-3 whitewash at home in a Test series against New Zealand, is slightly under pressure as the Australia tour begins.
India's tour of Australia begins on November 22 in Perth before the day-night second Test in Adelaide from December 6-10. The third Test will be played at the Gabba in Brisbane from December 14-18 before the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from December 26-30. The last and final Test will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 3-7.