Shardul Thakur Lauds Coach Gambhir's Motivational Impact on Young Indian Team

In a recent interview, Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur has come out in strong support of head coach Gautam Gambhir. Thakur's comments come amid criticism of Gambhir's performance, particularly after India's Test defeats against New Zealand in 2024 and Australia earlier this year.

However, Thakur believes that Gambhir has brought a renewed sense of energy and motivation to the team. He points to India's recent 2-2 draw in the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England as evidence of Gambhir's positive influence. Thakur notes that the young Indian side, led by Shubman Gill, lacked the experience of veteran players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who had recently retired.

Despite the challenges, Thakur credits Gambhir for instilling belief in the squad. He says the coach's message of representing India with pride and the conviction that they can beat any opponent on their day, helped lift the team's morale and drive their resilient performance against England.

Thakur's endorsement of Gambhir's coaching style suggests that the former cricketer-turned-coach has been able to connect with the younger generation of Indian cricketers and guide them through a transitional phase for the national team.