Overview:
Kapil Dev's statement on Gautam Gambhir sheds light on the challenges of modern-day coaching in cricket.
India’s World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, said Gautam Gambhir can’t be a coach of Team India as he is the manager of the sub-continent nation. According to him, the role of a head-coach in modern-day coaching is about managing players rather than coaching them, amid criticism of Gambhir’s style as the head of the support staff.
Gambhir is under the scanner following India’s 0-2 Test series defeat against South Africa, with critics highlighting frequent changes to the playing XI and use of part-time bowlers. Kapil mentioned that the term coach is misunderstood.
“The word coaching is a common word today. Gautam Gambhir can’t be a coach as he is a manager of the team,” Kpail Dev said at the Indian Chamber of Commerce ICC Centenary Session.
“When you say coach, it is about a person from whom you have learned in school and college. Those were the people. They can manage me,” he added.
Kapil mentioned that players already have specialised skills, which makes the idea of coaching impractical. “How can Gautam Gambhir be a coach of the leg-spinner or the wicket-keeper? You have to manage people, which is more important. As a manager, you encourage them. When you are a manager, the youngsters look up to you,” he explained.
According to Kapil, the primary responsibility of the manager is to give confidence and comfort to the players struggling to perform.
“The job of a captain and manager is to give the players comfort and always tell them that they have in them to perform better.”
Kapil said that he always backed players going through challenging times. “It is important to give the struggling players comfort. I don’t want to have dinner or drink without someone who has scored a hundred. As a captain, I would rather go out with people who are not performing.
“They need confidence. The job of a captain is not just to perform but to keep the team together,” he concluded.