Now Reading: Gary Kirsten backs Gautam Gambhir as Sri Lanka gear up for India Tests
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Gary Kirsten backs Gautam Gambhir as Sri Lanka gear up for India Tests
Sri Lanka head coach Gary Kirsten has endorsed under-fire India coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the two-match Test series beginning Saturday at Galle. The Times of India reports Kirsten cited Gambhir's record:…
The Story in Brief
Sri Lanka head coach Gary Kirsten has endorsed under-fire India coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the two-match Test series beginning Saturday at Galle. The Times of India reports Kirsten cited Gambhir's record: a T20 World Cup win in 2026, an ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, and an IPL title as mentor for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024. 'His record speaks for itself. He's a fantastic coach,' Kirsten said during a virtual interaction on Thursday.
Kirsten, who coached India from 2008 to 2011 and led them to the 2011 World Cup, declined to confirm whether Sri Lanka would target India's perceived vulnerability against spin. 'We would like to bring all our skills into the game, not just spin,' he said. The South African also backed left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya but stressed Sri Lanka's bowling strategy would not revolve around one player.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that Gautam Gambhir is a failing coach has grown louder after India's recent WTC campaign stumbles. But Gary Kirsten's public backing is a reminder that Gambhir's trophy cabinet, a T20 World Cup, a Champions Trophy, an IPL title, is fuller than most. Critics are quick to forget results when a team hits a rough patch. The real test will be how India's batters handle spin in Galle. If they fold cheaply, the talk will shift back to the coach. If they adapt, the same voices will fall silent.
Sources (2): thehindu.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
