NewKerala.com

Gautam Gambhir's "Super Team" Mantra After India's Historic T20 WC Win

Following India's historic T20 World Cup victory, head coach Gautam Gambhir outlined his core philosophy of building a "super team" rather than catering to individual superstars. He emphasized treating all 15 players equally, focusing solely on their contribution to the team and country, not their social media following or TRP appeal. Gambhir's tenure has seen a notable cultural shift, with established stars participating in domestic cricket to maintain form. The win marked India as the first nation to defend the T20 World Cup title and win it on home soil.

Key Points: Gambhir: "My Job is to Build a Super Team, Not Superstars"

  • India wins record third T20 World Cup
  • Gambhir prioritizes team over individual stars
  • Coach dismisses focus on TRPs and social media
  • Shift from older superstar culture noted
2 min read

"My job is to build a super team, not superstars": Indian Coach Gautam Gambhir reveals mantra after T20 WC win

Indian coach Gautam Gambhir reveals his team-first philosophy after India's record T20 World Cup win, emphasizing equality over individual stardom.

"The media wants to create superstars but my job as a head coach is to create a super team. - Gautam Gambhir"

New Delhi, March 11

Following his side's record-breaking third T20 World Cup win, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir spoke on his intention to "build a super team" instead of superstars.

The Indian head coach spoke to ANI following his side's win over New Zealand in the final at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, which India won by 96 runs to become the first nation to defend the T20WC title and capture the prize as a home nation.

Gambhir said that while "the media wants to create superstars, his job is to create a super team". He also said that he does not care about the broadcasting/social media numbers, TRPs and fan following but focuses on what players bring to the team and country.

"That is a simple difference and that difference will always remain. The media wants to create superstars but my job as a head coach is to create a super team. And that is the only way I look at my profession because my job is to be absolutely fair, even and treat everyone exactly equally because those 15 people in that dressing room are absolutely equal to me," he said.

"I do not look at the amount of runs they have got. I do not look at the amount of social media following they have. I do not look at what TRP they bring to the people or to the broadcaster. I only look at what they bring to the team and what they bring to the country. And that is why I feel that my job is to create a super team. And hopefully, till I finish my tenure, I will be able to create a super team," Gambhir said.

Since Gambhir's arrival as head coach, there has been a significant shift from the superstar culture of the older days. Stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin retired from Tests after a prolonged slump by the first half of 2025.

Also, stars like Rohit, Virat (now ODI exclusive players), Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, current Test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma, among others, have marked their attendance in Indian domestic cricket, some of them after several years, to keep themselves match fit and in form.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Respectfully, while I agree with the team-first philosophy, we shouldn't completely dismiss the role of superstars. Players like Kohli and Rohit inspired a generation. The balance is key - a super team needs leaders who can be superstars on the field without the off-field drama.
R
Rohit P
Seeing senior players turn up for Ranji Trophy is the real win here. For years, our domestic cricket was treated as a stepping stone by established players. This culture change is more important than any trophy. Kudos to Dada Gambhir! 🏏
M
Michael C
As a cricket fan from Australia, this is fascinating. Our team has always prided itself on being a unit first. If India fully embraces this, they will be even more formidable. Gambhir's no-nonsense approach reminds me of our best coaches.
S
Shreya B
Finally! No more debates about who is the GOAT while the team loses important matches. Let's celebrate the collective effort. The WC win proves this philosophy works. Hope BCCI backs him for the long term.
K
Karthik V
The media and brands created the superstar culture for TRPs and sales. Gambhir is calling them out directly. But will the ecosystem allow this? Star power sells tickets and ads. It's a tough battle, but the right one.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50