Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has come out in support of Gautam Gambhir amid scrutiny for his straight responses at press conferences. After India’s 0-3 series loss to New Zealand at home, Gambhir, who is the Indian head coach, has faced criticism for his coaching tenure’s mixed start.
During a press conference before India’s tour of Australia, Gambhir defended Virat Kohli against Australia legend Ricky Ponting’s comments on Kohli’s form. Ponting’s response to Gambhir’s comments resulted in a heated exchange, with Ponting calling Gambhir a prickly character.
Ganguly, who played alongside Gambhir in the past, defended his former teammate’s straight talk. He pointed out that everyone praised Gambhir for his straightforward approach when he led Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title win earlier this year.
Ganguly emphasized the importance of allowing Gambhir to be himself, stating, “All I will say is let him be. I saw some criticism on what he said in the press conference. It is the way he is. Let him be.”
The former Indian captain also supported Gambhir’s comments on Ponting, stating that there was nothing wrong with what Gambhir had said. Ganguly highlighted the historical toughness of Australian cricketers and urged critics to give Gambhir a chance to prove himself as a coach.
Despite Australia’s dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in recent years, Ganguly believes India has the potential to compete. He urged patience with Gambhir’s coaching tenure, which has only been two to three months long.
In conclusion, Ganguly’s unwavering support for Gambhir underscores the former captain’s belief in allowing individuals to express themselves authentically, even in the face of criticism.
