‘Gambhir’s a no-nonsense guy’ – Ravi Shastri calls new India coach appointment ‘refreshing’

Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as Team India’s new head coach is refreshing for Indian cricket, feels former coach and veteran Ravi Shastri. Replacing Rahul Dravid for the top position, Gambhir, whom Shastri calls a no-nonsense guy, will have plenty riding on his shoulders; however, with the mature team at the helm and having worked or played with most players, the ‘young’ coach Gambhir can make the most of this chance, Shastri believes.

Shastri backed Gautam to bring fresh ideas and instil confidence into the side as the busy international calendar looms. With the away Sri Lanka tour being Gambhir’s first assignment as India's head coach, the former two-time World Cup winner will lead the team in the home season, beginning with the Bangladesh series in early September.

Although Gautam hasn’t coached any domestic or international team before, he guided his former IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders, to their third title this season as a mentor.

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“He's contemporary; he just had a great season in the IPL,” Shastri said of Gambhir on the ICC Review.“I think he's the right age where he's young, he'll come with fresh ideas. He knows most of the players, especially in the white-ball format, having been part of teams in the IPL. So I think it's refreshing.

“And we know with Gautam, he's a no-nonsense guy. He'll have his ideas as well. And the good thing for him is he's got a mature team. He's got a settled team, a mature team. I think even though you might think you're mature, you might benefit from some fresh ideas. So I think it'll be interesting times,” Shastri continued.

‘Player management becomes a key for coach’

Having been in Gautam’s shoes before, Shastri knows and understands what a head coach brings to the table.

Ravi said it would be interesting to see how he manages his players and different squads with all the tools available.

"Obviously, player management becomes the key as a coach," Shastri said.

"So it'll be interesting to see how he goes. I think he's got the tools, he's got the goods for the job, and he's got the experience," he further said.

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However, Shastri believes Gautam’s biggest test will be to understand the players, temperament and personalities and help work on them to get the most out of them as cricketers.

"It's a question of just understanding his players as quickly as possible," Shastri said.

"What their strengths are, what kind of human beings they are, and what kind of temperaments do they have. What are their personalities? A lot goes behind the scenes to understand a human being.

"I think that will be his most important task, which I think, again should not be a problem because he's contemporary. He's seen these guys from the outside, he's dealt with a lot of guys who might have played with KKR as well and for Lucknow [Super Giants] when he was there.

"And he's been around the circuit, the moment he finished cricket - and that was not too long ago - and he still is around, plays a lot of the legends cricket as well,” Shastri added.

Meanwhile, Team India's tour of Sri Lanka begins with the first of the three T20Is on Saturday (July 27) in Pallekele. Three ODIs will follow, starting August 1 in Colombo.

(With inputs from agencies)