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Former Indian pace bowler Zaheer Khan has weighed in on the contrasting coaching approaches of Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir, suggesting that the latter’s “flexible” strategy could potentially create “insecurity” within Team India.
Zaheer’s comments come amidst discussions about India’s white-ball strategy, particularly regarding the experimentation with different batting combinations in recent matches against England.
Gambhir’s flexible approach: A double-edged sword
Zaheer emphasized the importance of clear communication and alignment between the coach, captain, selectors, and players for Gambhir’s approach to be successful1. He noted that while flexibility is valuable, it needs to be implemented with established guidelines and protocols to avoid unsettling players.
“You’ve said that you’ve got to have the flexibility. Number one and two will be there but the others are going to be flexible. Within that flexibility, some rules also apply. There are certain protocols you have to follow. Certain communication needs to happen, which is gonna streamline things. Otherwise, you are creating insecurity, which, at some stage, will come back and hurt you. You don’t want it to be the case. So you’ve got to be prepared to deal with that situation,” Zaheer was quoted as saying on Cricbuzz.
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Need for streamlined system and communication
Zaheer pointed out that the current dynamic situation makes it difficult to compare Dravid’s and Gambhir’s approaches directly, and that the entire system needs to be streamlined for things to work smoothly.
“That’s why I said recency bias is something very strong right now. The situation has become dynamic if you have to compare Rahul Dravid’s approach and Gautam Gambhir’s approach. You can say it’s good, bad or ugly, or you can say how do we adapt. Each individual is a part of this system, be it the senior management or the think tank, be it the players, be it the selectors. They will have to gauge it, and the entire system needs to be streamlined for the wheel to turn properly,” Zaheer added.
The cricketer-turned-mentor had previously supported the extension of Dravid’s tenure as head coach, emphasizing the need for continuity and stability within the team, especially with upcoming major tournaments like the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He noted that with so much happening in Indian cricket, maintaining continuity through the coach is essential for a robust system. Dravid’s tenure saw India reach the finals of the World Test Championship 2023 and ODI Cricket World Cup 2023, and winning the T20 World Cup 2024.
