After another press conference outburst where he slammed reporters and an IPL team owner post the ODI series win over South Africa, India head coach Gautam Gambhir has received some friendly advice from his old Delhi teammate, Aakash Chopra.
The former India opener said that even though the India head coach has his heart in the right place, Gambhir’s fuming retorts in press conferences do not make for pleasant viewing.
In a chat with reporters after India’s 2-1 ODI series win in Visakhapatnam, Gambhir hit back at his critics for the 0-2 Test debacle against the Proteas.
“People said things that have nothing to do with cricket. An IPL team owner also wrote about split coaching. It’s important for people to stay in their domain. Because if we don’t go into someone’s domain, they also don’t have the right to come into our domain,” Gambhir said.
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Chopra suggested that Gambhir tone down his words in media interactions to keep himself out of hostile environments in the wake of defeats.
“Gautam came and he was very fiery. You expect that with Gautam. When he comes to press conferences, he speaks his heart out. I have a suggestion for Gautam. When you come so fiery, and when you go after an individual or something, people then start waiting for Gautam to fail. At times, it seems like you are setting yourself up for this kind of criticism,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
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“It cannot be his (Gambhir’s) mistake only when the team loses. One thing is certain with Gautam. His heart is at the right place, and he is a very passionate guy. He is always ready to fight for the country and the country’s team. My only suggestion is don’t fight. You have to please nobody. Don’t pick up so many fights,” he added.
‘Agree with him on Gill’s absence’
Reflecting on the Test series defeat, Gambhir had said India had missed the services of their injured captain Shubman Gill during their narrow defeat in the first Test at Eden Gardens.
“He said that we lost by 30 runs in the Kolkata Test, in which our main batter, who has scored 1,000 runs in the last seven months, wasn’t available in both innings, and why is no one talking about it? I concur because we had spoken about it that if Shubman had played in both innings, he would have scored 30 at least. However, we also criticized the pitch,” Chopra said.
‘IPL owner jibe unnecessary’
Chopra, however, said that Gambhir’s jibe at an IPL owner’s comment on the Test defeats was uncalled for.
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“He said if you don’t have the domain expertise, don’t talk about it. I felt it was slightly unnecessary. However, sometimes we fail to understand the undercurrents behind it. I am not trying to defend him. However, at times, you feel bad about someone because you know that guy’s opinion about you had been different earlier as well, so let me just fire it back,” he added.
“That might have been the case with that one person. Otherwise, I don’t think there is merit in this argument that you don’t need to speak about something if you are not the domain expert. Just like the incredible thing Indigo has done. I am not an aviation expert, but I can talk. I don’t think someone doesn’t have a moral right to talk. However, that one thing might have had a slightly deeper, bigger meaning,” Chopra remarked.
