Gautam Gambhir Is Just Getting Started

Love him or hate him, you can't ignore Gautam Gambhir. Since his cricketing days, Gambhir has widely been described as an enigma who had the sporting world scratching his head. From his unfiltered analysis on day-to-day cricketing affairs to metal-piercing remarks as a pundit, Gambhir is a character who has the ability to alter careers of players with his no-nonsense approach. He only showed glimpses of his qualities as a coach in the Indian Premier League before the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to rope him in as the replacement for Rahul Dravid, offering him arguably the biggest personality switch that could theoretically be given.

Gambhir's bold selection calls, approach to different situations and even strategic insights played a crucial role in Team India's triumph as the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai. While ICC titles are the ultimate aim for most coaches in the world, for Gambhir, it's only the start of a much bigger project.

Rocky Start

Gambhir's appointment as the Indian team's head coach was no walk in the park. It was the amalgamation of two contrasting styles, especially considering the work environment Gambhir's predecessor Rahul Dravid had (SET?) said during his time with the team. The series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia had triggered alarm, with the BCCI confronting questions about their decision to appoint Gambhir to the role.

Cometh the Champions Trophy in Dubai, an assignment that was seen as make-or-break, not just for Gambhir but also for senior India stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. As has been Gambhir's performance as an active player in high-pressure matches - the 2007 World T20 final or the 2011 ODI World Cup final - he delivered. And the result was