‘I need one…’- Gautam Gambhir shares a rare light moment during India press conference

Fans are used to seeing Gautam Gambhir in a serious and composed manner. Known for his intense personality, the former India opener seldom shows his lighter side, whether during his playing days or in his coaching role.

However, things took a different turn after the conclusion of the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Following India’s series-clinching win over the West Indies, Gambhir appeared visibly relaxed and in good spirits.

During the post-match press conference, when a journalist asked him a question, Gambhir surprised everyone by cracking a light-hearted joke. The rare moment of humour from the usually stern coach drew laughter from the media room, showing a different side of the Indian head coach.

See Also: [WATCH] Rohit Sharma stays calm as fans crowd around him before Delhi departure

Gautam Gambhir on Having Mental Conditioning Coach:

Gautam Gambhir jokingly commented on Shubman Gill’s packed schedule, saying that with India playing continuously, even he might soon need a mental conditioning coach to keep up with the demanding cricket calendar.

He pointed out the packed cricket calendar, noting how India has played an intense stretch of matches continuously throughout the year, testing both players’ focus and endurance. He said, “ First of all, I need one. This is my birthday gift. The coach is as good as the team.”

Shubman Gill has been on a packed schedule, moving swiftly from the Asia Cup to the West Indies series without much rest. Now, he is set to take charge as India’s ODI captain in the upcoming three-match series against Australia, beginning on Sunday, October 19, Down Under.

For head coach Gautam Gambhir, memories of last year’s home series whitewash against New Zealand remain fresh. He emphasized the difficulty of adapting to rank turners and praised the growth of India’s young batting unit. While KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja provide experience, both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Gill have now matured enough to handle testing conditions confidently.

It’s important to note that Virat Kohli’s Test average declined on spin-friendly surfaces, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja excelled to become top-class players. However, on flatter tracks, Jadeja and Washington Sundar pose less threat, whereas wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav continues to be a valuable attacking choice for India.

The upcoming two-Test series against South Africa will serve as a key test of India’s dominance at home, especially with no red-ball matches scheduled for the next eight months before the Sri Lanka tour.

With young batters gaining valuable exposure and bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav adjusting to varying conditions, Gautam Gambhir remains confident in India’s adaptability. His relaxed post-match demeanor reflected a rare lighthearted moment, showing that even the most intense mentors can find humor amid a demanding cricket schedule.