“Gautam Gambhir isn’t coach…”- Kapil Dev drops shocking statement on India’s head coach

India’s former World Cup-winning coach and the premier all-rounder of India’s former World Cup-winning coach and the premier all-rounder of the team, Kapil David, reckoned that the current head coach of the team is about managing the players rather than coaching them, amidst the criticism around the working style of the country’s current head coach, Gautam Gambhir, who has received speculation on his Test series defeats.

Kapil Dev suggested that the term coach is being misunderstood in contemporary cricket. Gambhir has been under the pump, having lost two of the last three home red-ball series against South Africa and New Zealand in successive years, which has been a new headache.

“Today, the word 'coach' is very common. Gautam Gambhir can't be a coach. He can be a manager of the team. When you say coach, it is where I learn in school and college. Those were the people; my coach was there. They can manage me.” Kapil Dev expressed at the Indian Chamber of Commerce ICC Centenary Session.

Kapil Dev gives shocking statement on Gautam Gambhir

Kapil also argued that at the highest level, the players possess specialized skills, making the traditional idea of coaching impractical. The primary responsibility of a coach is to provide comfort to the players.

“How can you be a coach when they have given a name to let's say anybody a leg spinner? How can Gautam be a coach to a leg spinner or to the wicket-keeper? I think you have to manage. That's more important. As a manager, you encourage them to say you can do it because when you become a manager, the young boys look up to you.” Dev addressed the function.

“How can my manager or captain give me that comfort, and that's what the manager and captain's job is - to give comfort to the team and always say 'you can do better'. That's the way I look at it. I think you have to give comfort to the people who are not playing well. If somebody made a hundred, I don't want to have a drink and dinner with him.” The former captain informed.