India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has articulated his leadership philosophy, emphasizing a strong synergy with captain Suryakumar Yadav and praising the skipper’s suitability for the T20 format. Gambhir views his role as offering impartial advice to Suryakumar, aligning with his interpretation of the game. This captain-coach duo has proven highly effective since taking the helm after India’s 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup triumph, significantly boosting the team’s aggressive batting and securing numerous series victories, including a recent Asia Cup title in the UAE. Their partnership is set to continue in an upcoming five-match T20I series against Australia.
“Surya is a great human being, and good humans make good leaders,” Gambhir said, underscoring Suryakumar’s character. He clarified his coaching stance: “My role is simply to advise him fairly based on my reading of the game. Ultimately, this is his team.” Gambhir lauded Suryakumar’s effervescent personality as a perfect match for T20 cricket’s demands for freedom and expression, noting its positive influence on team dynamics over the past 1.5 years.
A cornerstone of their strategy, according to Gambhir, is a commitment to playing without fear of failure. “From our first conversation, we agreed: we will not fear losing,” he declared. “I don’t aim to be the most successful coach; I want us to be the most fearless team.” This mindset encourages players to take risks and accept occasional errors, whether in batting, bowling, or fielding, especially during crucial matches like the Asia Cup final.
Regarding Suryakumar’s recent batting struggles in the Asia Cup, Gambhir remains unfazed, attributing it to the team’s adopted ultra-aggressive style. “Failures are inevitable” when pursuing such a philosophy, he explained. Gambhir highlighted that the team has collectively agreed that it’s acceptable to fail while striving for this aggressive brand of cricket. He pointed to the current good form of Abhishek Sharma and expressed confidence that Suryakumar would regain his rhythm and contribute significantly. Gambhir concluded by reiterating that T20 cricket’s success hinges on the ‘brand of cricket’ played, where aggressive intent and impact are paramount, even if it leads to more frequent individual failures.