Gautam Gambhir has provided a rare, emotional glimpse into the pressures of his role, admitting to enduring “a lot of lonely nights” when results don’t go India’s way.
Speaking in a video released by the BCCI ahead of India’s T20 World Cup clash against Namibia in Delhi, the head coach reflected on the weight of a profession where “things don’t always go your way.” Returning to his hometown, Gambhir emphasized that his support staff has become a “family away from family,” often sharing more raw emotion with them than with his own household due to the unique demands of elite-level coaching.
Gambhir’s tenure, which began with high expectations following his IPL success with KKR, has been a rollercoaster of historic lows and significant highs. While he led India to a 2025 Champions Trophy victory and an Asia Cup title, the journey has been marred by a 1-3 Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss in Australia and India’s first home Test series defeat in over a decade. Amid social media scrutiny and reported friction with senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Gambhir stressed the importance of keeping the dressing room atmosphere light, noting that “everyone has a funny side” that needs to emerge to counter the “pensive” nature of the job.
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