Tim Paine: Gambhir’s “prickly” style is Biggest Concern for India
In Short
- Tim Paine believes the Gambhir-Ponting conflict could harm India’s chances in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
- Paine feels Gambhir’s reaction shows a lack of calmness under pressure, which could hurt India’s performance.
- Paine praises Ravi Shastri’s positive coaching style but criticizes Gambhir’s “prickly” and competitive approach.
- Paine agrees with Ponting on Kohli’s form being a concern and stresses the importance of Gambhir staying composed.
Tim Paine, the former Australian captain, spoke out about the conflict between India’s coach Gautam Gambhir and Ricky Ponting. Paine said the argument is not a good sign for India’s chances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting November 22 in Perth. Gambhir had criticized Ponting for his comments on Virat Kohli’s form, which Paine felt showed a lack of calmness under pressure.
Paine pointed out that Gambhir’s reaction was over the top. He said the coach should have stayed calm, as Ponting is now a commentator giving his opinion. Paine believes that if the coach is easily upset, it could cause problems for India during the series.
He also compared Gambhir’s style to former coach Ravi Shastri’s. Paine said Shastri created a positive atmosphere that helped the team perform well. In contrast, Gambhir’s competitive and “prickly” approach might not work as well with the Indian players.
Paine agreed with Ponting’s criticism of Kohli, saying it’s a real concern for India. He stressed that Gambhir should focus on handling the team well, instead of reacting to outside comments. Paine feels the coach’s ability to stay calm will be more important than individual players’ form.
Under Gambhir’s leadership, India has had mixed results. They won T20 series against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and South Africa but were defeated 3-0 by New Zealand in Tests. Paine warned that India’s success will depend on how well Gambhir handles pressure during the upcoming Test series.
