Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has credited head coach Gautam Gambhir’s steadfast faith in his own methods as the driving force behind India’s T20 World Cup success, arguing that Gambhir’s firm thinking and composure in high-pressure moments proved decisive. Speaking on Sports Tak, Yuvraj explained that Gambhir’s approach stood out from early on, recalling that he has known the former opener since their days in India age-group setups—under-16 and under-19—and always believed Gambhir had an exceptionally sharp understanding of the game. “The way he views cricket has always been something special,” Yuvraj said, pointing to the clarity that Gambhir brings to plans, decision-making and execution.
Yuvraj also highlighted Gambhir’s track record as both a player and a mentor, suggesting that his experience at the highest stage helps him guide teams with confidence. He referenced Gambhir’s match-winning contributions in World Cup final scenarios, while also stressing that the former batter went on to deliver again as a mentor. “He has performed at the top level and played a big part in winning two World Cups. After that, as a mentor with Kolkata Knight Riders, he won titles again. That’s proof he must be doing something right,” Yuvraj added.
Sticking to the plan through criticism
According to Yuvraj, Gambhir’s most significant strength is the ability to remain loyal to his process even when results invite scrutiny. He noted that once someone takes over as India’s coach, every move becomes a talking point and mistakes are highlighted relentlessly. “When you become India’s coach, there are too many eyes on you. One mistake gets shown 100 times, and one success gets shown 1000 times,” Yuvraj said. He then pointed to how Gambhir handled a difficult period following India’s Test setbacks, saying that despite the backlash, the coach stayed with his framework. “He went through that phase but stuck to his process. That’s what ultimately helped India win the World Cup. Now he’s back on the rise—cricket always has ups and downs,” Yuvraj explained.
Yuvraj went on to describe the aggressive nature of Gambhir’s blueprint, arguing that it creates a psychological edge by pushing opponents to respond from the first ball. “He was clear: we have to play that brand of cricket even if there are failures. We come at you from the start. If it’s there to hit, batters like Abhishek or Sanju will take it from ball one,” he said, underlining how intent and tempo are built into the plan rather than left to chance.
He also stressed the impact of India’s bowling resources, naming Jasprit Bumrah as the central figure who can rescue situations when matches tighten. “Whenever India are in trouble, they have Bumrah to bail them out, with Hardik and Arshdeep supporting him,” Yuvraj said. Beyond pace, Yuvraj pointed to the squad’s overall balance, mentioning the presence of dependable spin options such as Kuldeep Yadav—even when the team composition means he may not always start.
Wrapping up his assessment, Yuvraj returned to his core message: Gambhir stayed committed to his process despite setbacks, and the approach was eventually rewarded with the T20 World Cup.
