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Gautam Gambhir Eyes Olympic Glory as Cricket Returns to LA 2028

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed his strong desire to be part of cricket's return to the Olympic Games at LA 2028, calling it a huge honour. He outlined his coaching philosophy, emphasizing aggressive play in big matches and selecting squads based on long-term trust rather than short-term results. Gambhir also highlighted the collective nature of success and acknowledged the ongoing challenge of transition in Test cricket. He credited his decision-making to instinct, which he values over data, and thanked ICC Chair Jay Shah for his support.

Key Points: Gautam Gambhir on Olympics, Coaching Philosophy & Team India

  • Eager for Olympic involvement
  • Philosophy of aggressive crunch-game play
  • Squad selection based on trust, not hope
  • Instincts prioritized over data
  • Acknowledges Test cricket transition challenge
2 min read

"I would love to be part of Olympics, It's a huge honour": Gautam Gambhir

India head coach Gautam Gambhir discusses cricket's Olympic return, his aggressive leadership style, and the importance of trust in team selection.

"I would love to be part of the Olympics. It's a huge honour. - Gautam Gambhir"

Kolkata, March 16

Team India Men's head coach Gautam Gambhir said he would relish the opportunity to be associated with cricket's return to the Olympic Games, according to a release.

With cricket set to mark its return to the Olympics with the LA 2028 Games, Gambhir said it would be a "huge honour" to be a part of the Games and represent India.

"I would love to be part of the Olympics. It's a huge honour. Very few get the honour of representing India at the Olympics," said Gautam Gambhir, during Day Two of RevSportz Trailblazers 4.0.

The India head coach also spoke about the philosophy that has shaped his approach to leadership and preparation.

"I was very clear from the first day. The tougher the game, the more aggressive you have to be. Come the big game, come the crunch game, you've got to be more aggressive," he said.

On backing players during difficult phases, a belief that he says is rooted in trust rather than short-term results, Gambhir opined, "You don't pick a squad on hope. You pick a squad on trust and faith. You don't lose trust after just three or four matches."

Explaining his philosophy further, he acknowledged that mistakes are inevitable in decision-making, saying, "I'm human and I also make mistakes. Wrong decisions with the right intent are acceptable. Wrong decisions with the wrong intent are never allowed in that dressing room."

Gambhir also stressed that success is a collective effort and credited the entire support system around the team.

"Success is never about one person. It belongs to everyone in the dressing room, from the players to the support staff."

Looking ahead, he admitted that India still have work to do in the longer format of the game.

"Transition in red-ball cricket is always tougher than white-ball cricket. But if the team keeps working hard in the right direction, we will be fine," Gambhir said.

Gambhir also thanked former BCCI secretary and current ICC chair Jay Shah for placing his faith in him and explained why instinct often plays a key role in his decision-making.

"I have taken all the calls on my instincts. My instincts are faster than data, and sometimes data too can be misleading," he said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
I really appreciate his philosophy on backing players. In India, we are so quick to drop someone after a couple of bad matches. Building trust is key for long-term success. Good to see a coach with this perspective.
R
Rohit P
"Wrong decisions with the right intent are acceptable." This is such a mature and human way to look at leadership. Takes the pressure off always being perfect and focuses on the effort. Hope this approach brings us more trophies!
S
Sarah B
While I admire his instinct-driven approach, I hope it's balanced with solid data analysis. In modern cricket, data is crucial for strategy, especially against top teams. Instinct is great, but it shouldn't completely override analytics.
V
Vikram M
Cricket in the Olympics is a dream come true for fans! Can't wait to see our boys compete for a gold medal. Gambhir's fighting spirit is perfect for the high-pressure Olympic environment. Jai Hind!
K
Karthik V
His point about Test cricket transition is spot on. We need to nurture young talent for the longer format. The focus is always on IPL and T20s. Hope the system gives equal importance to building a strong red-ball team.

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