Mohammad Kaif and Zaheer Khan share views on Gautam Gambhir’s coaching stint

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The tenure of Gautam Gambhir as India’s head coach has witnessed several memorable highs along with a few challenging phases since he took charge in July 2024. While the team has celebrated major ICC titles and notable successes across formats, there have also been difficult periods that have sparked discussions around the team’s overall direction. During a recent discussion, former India cricketers Mohammad Kaif and Zaheer Khan shared their opinions on Gambhir’s tenure, offering different perspectives on the current coaching setup.

Speaking on Cricbuzz, Kaif felt communication and transparency within the Indian team management need improvement. While rating Gambhir’s tenure 4 out of 10, he said the coach’s responsibility extends beyond tactics and includes maintaining clarity with players.

Kaif pointed to the discussions surrounding Gambhir’s equation with Virat Kohli, saying the lack of clarity has become a talking point. The former India batter added that players deserve clear communication regarding selection decisions and their roles within the squad.

“I will deduct marks. I will rate him 4 out of 10. There are a lot of talks about Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. That picture is not becoming clear. It’s not clear whether they are talking or not. If one player is dropped, the reason behind it should be clear. If Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir are not working together, this is not good news for us,” Kaif said.

Zaheer took a more balanced view while evaluating Gambhir’s tenure. The former India fast bowler acknowledged the team’s achievements under the current head coach and rated him 6 out of 10. However, Zaheer also agreed that communication and transparency remain areas where the Indian team management can continue improving. He added that India have all the necessary resources to succeed, with the key lying in how those strengths are managed.

“Under his leadership, we have won the T20 World Cup. His highs are also there. I will give him 6. As far as improvement, transparency and communication are concerned, it is a work in progress. You can call it a concern. Whenever you talk about Indian cricket, one thing you will see is talent and ability. You have all the ingredients. How to use them and make the best out of them is up to you,” Zaheer said.

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Since taking charge in July 2024, Gambhir has guided India to titles in the Champions Trophy 2025, Asia Cup 2025, and the T20 World Cup 2026. At the same time, the team has also faced criticism following disappointing Test results and inconsistent performances in some bilateral series.

While Kaif focused on communication and transparency, Zaheer believed Gambhir’s achievements deserved greater recognition. Their contrasting assessments once again highlighted the different viewpoints surrounding India’s current coaching setup.

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