Gautam Gambhir secured his first major title as India’s head coach as the team triumphed over New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy final. After Rahul Dravid stepped down following India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory, Gambhir took charge. Although many critics questioned his leadership, especially in red-ball cricket, he ultimately silenced them by guiding India to its second Champions Trophy win.
Gambhir and Sidhu’s Poetic Exchange
As the celebrations unfolded at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, a memorable moment took place between Gambhir and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu. Known for his poetic flair, Sidhu watched as Gambhir showcased his own poetic skills.
Gambhir began by saying, “Fann kuchalne ka hunar seekhiye janab…” Sidhu immediately completed it, responding, “Saapon ke darr se jungle nahi chhore jaate.”
Following this, Sidhu shared the moment on social media, writing, “The Shayari that he asked me to narrate has a lot to say … he @GautamGambhir is here to stay … wish him and the Indian cricket team the very best …. You made India proud brother.”
Later, Sidhu playfully challenged Gambhir to dance Bhangra. However, Gambhir hesitated and did not join in. Even though Sidhu insisted, the India head coach only posed in a Bhangra stance instead of dancing.
The Shayari that he asked me to narrate has a lot to say … he @GautamGambhir is here to stay … wish him and the Indian cricket team the very best …. You made India 🇮🇳 proud brother 🏆🏏 pic.twitter.com/TRnJKWh6Ii
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) March 9, 2025
Rohit Sharma Praises Gambhir’s Leadership
Meanwhile, India’s captain Rohit Sharma acknowledged Gambhir’s role in shaping the team’s mindset. He credited Gambhir for encouraging an aggressive style of play.
“It (attacking game) is not natural to me, but it is something I really wanted to do. When you try something new, you need the team and management’s support. They stood by me. In the ODI World Cup, I spoke to Rahul bhai, and he approved. Now, Gauti bhai has backed me as well. I played in a different style all these years, but I wanted to change and see if we could get better results,” Rohit stated.
With this victory, Gambhir has firmly established himself as India’s head coach. Not only has he silenced his critics, but he has also delivered a major title early in his tenure.
