‘He’s also an excellent tactician’ – Robin Uthappa speaks highly of India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav. (Source – BCCI)

Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa recently took centre stage and lauded Gautam Gambhir after he was named the new head coach of the Indian team. After Gambhir was named the Indian team’s head coach, he began his tenure with an exceptional 3-0 win against Sri Lanka in the T20I series.

However, he did go on to lose the subsequent ODI series after Sri Lanka pulled off a stellar comeback to win the second and third ODIs after the first game was tied.

Speaking of his tenure so far, Uthappa opined that Gambhir is the type of man to take every opportunity and seize them. He branded the former opener as an excellent tactician.

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“He [Gambhir] will seek out major opportunities and strive to seize them. As a leader, I can vouch for his ability to create an environment that enables people to thrive. He is that kind of leader — more than just a great captain, he’s also an excellent tactician and an exceptional leader of people,” Uthappa told the Times of India.

“He fosters a culture within the group that encourages success. Gautam Gambhir is a leader who provides security to his players, and we have seen that in action,” Uthappa added.

It is worth noting that Uthappa has spent quite some time with Gambhir, sharing the dressing room with him for team India and for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. Both players won the 2007 T20 World Cup together, and the IPL title in 2014 as well.

After India lost their recent ODI series against Sri Lanka, Robin Uthappa opined that Gambhir will aim to make the most of the pressure that would be put upon him.

“He’s always been someone who thrives under pressure and has consistently sought out big stages to deliver. As far as I’m concerned, I see the same qualities in him as a leader within this group,” Uthappa said further.