Gautam Gambhir: The Fresh Face in Indian Cricket Management

Referring to the new coach, Shastri commented, "We know with Gautam, he's a no-nonsense guy. He'll have his ideas as well. And the good thing for him is he's got a mature team. I think even though you might think you're mature, you might benefit from some fresh ideas."

Gambhir, who retired from all forms of the game in 2018, has stayed closely associated with it. He recently mentored the Lucknow Super Giants to the playoffs in 2022 and 2023 before returning to KKR where he won his two titles. The team ended a decade-long wait for a third IPL title thanks in part to Gambhir's contributions. 

According to Shastri, the former cricketer's recent experience positions him well to bring a rejuvenating outlook to the Indian team. He mentioned, "He's contemporary, he just had a great season in the IPL. I think he's the right age where he's young, he'll come with fresh ideas. He knows most of the players, especially in the white-ball format, having been part of teams in the IPL."

As Gautam Gambhir is filling the shoes of his predecessor, Rahul Dravid – who was lauded for nurturing younger players between 2021 and 2024 – Shastri emphasized the importance of understanding individual players. "Obviously, player management becomes the key as a coach," Shastri noted. "So it'll be interesting to see how he goes. I think he's got the tools, he's got the goods for the job and he's got the experience. It's a question of just understanding his players as quickly as possible."