Kapil Dev, India’s first World Cup-winning captain, has weighed in on the scrutiny surrounding Gautam Gambhir, suggesting that the role of a modern-day head coach is often misunderstood. Speaking at the Indian Chamber of Commerce’s centenary session on Thursday, Kapil argued that Gambhir’s primary function should be that of a "manager" rather than a traditional coach.
Kapil elaborated on the distinction between coaching at the grassroots level versus the international stage. "Today the word ‘coach’ is very common. Gautam Gambhir can’t be a coach. He can be a manager of the team," Kapil stated. He reasoned that technical instruction belongs in schools and colleges, whereas international setups require man-management.
"How can Gautam be a coach to a leg-spinner or to the wicketkeeper?" he asked, emphasizing that specialist players at the highest level do not require basic technical tutoring from a head coach.
The criticism of Gambhir has intensified after a rough patch for the Indian team, which included the recent whitewash in South Africa and a 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand in 2024. Observers have questioned Gambhir's tactical decisions, specifically his constant shuffling of the playing XI.
However, Kapil shifted the focus from tactics to the psychological aspect of leadership. "I think you have to manage. That’s more important. As a manager, you give them encouragement to say, ‘You can do it,’ because when you become a manager, the young boys look up to you," he explained.
According to the legendary all-rounder, the core responsibility of the support staff and captain is to provide a sense of security to the squad. "How can my manager or captain give me that comfort? That’s what the manager’s and captain’s job is, to give comfort to the team and always say, ‘You can do better.’ That’s the way I look at it," Kapil said. He stressed that a leader's role extends beyond their own performance on the field to the cohesive functioning of the entire unit.
Reflecting on his own captaincy tenure, Kapil shared his philosophy on handling underperforming players. He believed in spending time with those struggling for form rather than celebrating with the achievers.
"If somebody made a hundred I don’t want to have a drink and dinner with him. There are a lot of people there," he remarked. "As a captain, I would like to have a drink with people, or I like to have dinner with people who are not performing. You need to give them the confidence and that’s what happens."