Gautam Gambhir's appointment as head coach of the Indian men's cricket team was a fait accompli after Kolkata Knight Riders won the IPL title this year. It was a memorable ghar wapsi for Gambhir, who had captained the franchise to title wins in 2012 and 2014. Midway through the season, Rahul Dravid announced that he was not interested in an extension of his tenure, which cleared the path for Gambbhir to take over.
While he boasts an impressive body of work in all three formats at the international and domestic levels, Gambhir's task is onerous considering the hugely successful tenures of Dravid, and before him, Ravi Shastri.
Under Dravid, India reached the final of ICC tournaments in all three formats in a fascinating 18-month period, culminating in the T20 World Cup victory that finally broke a 13year barren spell.
Under Shastri, India could not secure an ICC title, but they did win their first-ever series in Australia in 2018-19, followed by an astonishing repeat performance in 2020-21 with an injury-hit team that had looked like fodder for the revenge-hungry Aussies.
Against this backdrop, comparisons are inevitable. So, while Gambhir takes guard at a time when Indian cricket is riding a crest, expectations from India's manic fans have also risen exponentially; fundamentally from players, of course, but also from the coach, who now plays such a crucial role in the sport.
The frequency with which coaches in Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have been dispensed with in recent times highlights how demanding the job can be. In this respect, Indian cricket has been more steadfast, not dumping coaches (and/or captains) with every setback. But this does not diminish the onus and pressure.
この記事は THE WEEK India の July 28, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は THE WEEK India の July 28, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Pressure Points
Author and MP Shashi Tharoor and motivational speaker Gaur Gopal Das on how to find healing and meaning in today's world
War Over Wounded Earth
For the BJP andthe Congress, the ravaged farmlands of Vidarbha represent a cxitieal battleground in their larger struggle to win Maharashtra
Say no to continual elections
Following the recommendations of a high-level committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind to streamline the widely scattered schedule of national, state and local elections, the Union cabinet has reportedly approved two constitutional amendment bills for likely introduction in Parliament. Predictably, the return of the ‘one nation, one election’ issue to news has set off a flurry of objections by several opposition leaders.
Fabulously, fashionably funny
The third season of the Karan Johar-produced Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives dropped on Netflix, but articles criticising the show appear in some news site or the other almost daily. If it is so bad, why keep writing about it? And if it is so bad, why would the superpowers at Netflix, who are harder to meet than the prime minister, commission the show season after season?
All in the family
The Chitaras have been passing down the secret art of Mata Ni Pachedi through generations for more than 400 years now
Raise a toast to Vidya Balan
Vidya Balan is a New Year baby. At 45, she is aglow in the most beautiful way, having won the hearts and admiration of countless fans across the world, who watched the supremely talented actor take a public tumble on stage at a high-profile promotional event recently, sharing the platform with no less a dancer than the eternally graceful Madhuri Dixit.
Death no bar
Being alive is not a legal requirement to be elected president of the United States
The Lotus POTUS
You should visit us one of these days— there is so much excitement in our USA! No, I don’t mean the famous USA—the Ulhasnagar Sindhi Association of Mumbai.
RAY OF HOPE
Actor and cancer survivor Lisa Ray talks to oncologist Dr Jame Abraham about inner strength and her surrogacy journey
LEVERAGE AI TO ENHANCE WORK
AT THE WEEK Health Summit, Siddharth Bagga, head (retail, CPG and health care), Google Cloud, elaborated on the significant work that Google has been doing in health care through artificial intelligence (AI).
