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Former England spinner Monty Panesar has made a significant statement regarding Gautam Gambhir’s role as India’s head coach, expressing doubts over the team’s perceived lack of seriousness toward his coaching methods. Panesar’s remarks come after India’s disappointing performances in the longer format of the game, which include a 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand and a 1-3 series defeat to Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. His analysis draws attention to Gambhir’s ongoing struggles to establish authority and credibility in the eyes of the players.
Gautam Gambhir’s workload and transition challenges
Panesar has pointed out that Gambhir, despite his transition from player to coach, may be struggling to manage the dual responsibility across all formats. He believed that Gambhir’s relationship with senior players, who once shared the dressing room with him, adds an additional layer of difficulty in asserting his role as a leader. Furthermore, Panesar brought attention to Gambhir’s underwhelming record in Test cricket overseas, particularly in Australia and England, which has hindered his credibility as a tactical coach.
“I think maybe the workload is too much for Gambhir. He’s just transitioned into a coach. Sometimes it can be difficult for some of the senior players who will actually be thinking, ‘Well, I was his teammate a few years ago, now he’s telling us how to play cricket.’ It can be difficult, that transition,” Panesar was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
Panesar further emphasized Gambhir’s struggle with performing in challenging conditions.
“He averages 23 in Australia. He doesn’t average well in England either. He didn’t play the moving ball very well. I think the selectors will be thinking, ‘Is Gambhir taking it seriously as a coach, or should we get him to just focus on ODIs and T20Is?,” the former left-arm spinner added.
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Need for a more respected coaching figure: Monty Panesar’s choice
Given these challenges, Panesar has suggested that VVS Laxman could be a better fit for the Test coaching role. Laxman’s career has been defined by his success in difficult conditions, including his stellar performances in Australia and England. Panesar believes that Laxman, with his experience and ability to command respect, would bring much-needed authority to India’s Test side.
“You need some sort of Indian legend who has done really well in all conditions to come in as a coach because then you naturally command that respect. If Laxman tells you, ‘You are not going to play the ball on the up when it is swinging,’ you listen, right?,” Panesar emphasized.
Panesar also noted Laxman’s similarity to Rahul Dravid, whose success as a coach has been widely acknowledged, and believes that Laxman could bring similar technical acumen and tactical insight to India’s setup.
“He’s similar to Rahul Dravid. He’s been successful in all conditions. Laxman could be brought in as a batting coach to assist Gambhir, or even take over the Test coaching role entirely,” the 42-year-old stated.
Gambhir’s limited appeal to players
One of the critical points that Panesar raised is the lack of trust and respect Gambhir seems to have among the current players. Unlike someone like Laxman, whose stellar international career has earned him immense respect, Gambhir’s transition into coaching hasn’t yet gained that same level of credibility. According to Panesar, this gap could be a key reason why the players might not fully engage with Gambhir’s tactical advice.
“I’m not sure if they really take Gambhir seriously, or they’re just saying, ‘Okay, yeah, we’ll listen to him, but we’re going to play our natural game.’ With Laxman, the players would naturally listen because of his terrific record,” Panesar concluded.
