‘Credit Rohit Sharma, Not Gautam Gambhir, for Kanpur Test Win’ – Sunil Gavaskar 

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Read Original Content: ‘Credit Rohit Sharma, Not Gautam Gambhir, for Kanpur Test Win’ – Sunil Gavaskar 

Former Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has taken issue with new head coach Gautam Gambhir receiving praise for India’s aggressive batting approach during their second Test victory against Bangladesh in Kanpur. Gavaskar expressed his views in his column for Sportstar, calling the attribution of this success to Gambhir “foot-licking of the highest quality.”

India’s Attacking Play in Kanpur

Despite rain disruptions affecting over two and a half days of play, India turned the tables on Bangladesh with an explosive performance. On Day 4, they posted a rapid 285/9 in just under 35 overs, setting up a realistic chance for victory. 

The bowlers then bundled Bangladesh out for a mere 146 in their second innings, leaving India to chase 95 runs, which they accomplished in just 17.2 overs. This stunning display not only secured a 2-0 series win but also invited comparisons to England’s ‘Bazball’ style, leading to the term ‘Gamball’ for India’s new approach.

Gavaskar Dismisses Gambhir’s Impact

However, Gavaskar was quick to shut down the credit being given to Gambhir for this newfound aggression, stating that captain Rohit Sharma deserves the praise for revolutionizing India’s batting approach long before Gambhir’s arrival. 

“Gambhir has only been coaching for a couple of months, so attributing this approach to him is foot-licking of the highest quality. Gambhir himself hardly ever batted in this fashion like McCullum used to do. If any credit is due, it is solely to Rohit and nobody else,” Gavaskar wrote.

Rohit Sharma’s leadership has been transformative for India’s batting, especially since he took over as captain in 2022. Under his leadership, the team adopted a more aggressive mindset, particularly in ODIs, where Rohit’s personal strike rate soared to almost 120 from his overall rate of 92.43. 

Gambhir’s Recent Appointment

Gautam Gambhir, meanwhile, took charge as head coach after India’s successful 2024 T20 World Cup campaign and led the team on their white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. Despite his relatively short tenure, many have linked India’s success in the Kanpur Test to his influence, which Gavaskar has strongly refuted.

While Gambhir may be at the helm now, Gavaskar made it clear that Rohit Sharma’s leadership and aggressive batting style were already well-established, and they are what has driven India’s recent success, not any sudden shift under Gambhir’s guidance.

Read Original Content: ‘Credit Rohit Sharma, Not Gautam Gambhir, for Kanpur Test Win’ – Sunil Gavaskar 

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