MUMBAI: India could also be watching the potential for one other setback of their World Take a look at Championship marketing campaign and that has elevated the antagonism that cricket followers in India have in the direction of head coach Gautam Gambhir. Nonetheless, on Thursday, Gambhir discovered help from an previous ally. Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirsten threw his weight behind the underfire India head coach, insisting that the previous opener’s teaching credentials converse for themselves throughout a digital media interplay.Kirsten, a former left-handed opener who coached India from 2008-11, cited Gambhir’s teaching document and stated, “He’s a implausible coach. He’s had unbelievable success. He has gained a T20 World Cup (2026) and the ICC Champions Trophy (2025). He’s additionally had success within the IPL (Gambhir was the crew mentor for 2024 IPL champs Kolkata Knight Riders). His document speaks for itself. I actually loved working with him when he was a participant. He’s a wise cricketer and I knew he’d have success as coach.”Gambhir performed below Kirsten when the South African was with the Indian crew. He later coached South Africa (2011-13) and served as Pakistan’s head coach in white-ball cricket for six months in 2024.“It was a fantastic three years and a privileged one to work with Indian gamers,” Kirsten stated. “There was quite a lot of talent in that dressing room. What I appreciated was that they accepted me into their area and felt I might add worth. I’ve approached the Sri Lankan position with the identical seriousness.”Recently, India have proven an inclination to battle towards high quality spin however Kirsten refused to disclose whether or not Sri Lanka would particularly goal that weak spot.As an alternative, he confused that the hosts had been targeted on executing their very own abilities quite than obsessing over opponents.“We wish to deliver all our abilities into the sport, not simply spin,” he specified. “Whether or not you’re a seamer or a spinner, in the event you’re executing your abilities correctly, you’ll be within the sport. We’ve carried out our homework on India and recognized areas we could possibly exploit, however cricket unfolds session by session and also you adapt accordingly.”The South African selected to be diplomatic when requested about India’s current batting points towards spin. As an alternative, he stored steering the dialog again to Sri Lanka’s personal preparation. “I’m not right here to evaluate the Indian crew,” he stated. “They’re a top quality facet with great depth. Our accountability is to ensure we’re prepared, each when it comes to talent execution and technique. The main focus stays on our strengths.”He additionally performed down solutions that Sri Lanka’s plans would revolve solely round left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, whose exceptional document in Galle has earned him the nickname ‘King of Galle’. Jayasuriya has claimed 125 wickets in simply 23 Assessments, together with 81 on the venue. “He’s a world-class bowler and he’s had nice success at residence,” Kirsten stated. “However we don’t construct our bowling technique round one participant. Each bowler has a job to play. It’s clearly nice to have him within the combine although.”An unapologetic Take a look at cricket-tragic who performed in 101 Assessments for the Proteas, Kirsten stated he most well-liked longer Take a look at collection. “I’m a Take a look at match purist. I like Take a look at cricket. And my private perception is that each nation will get to play not less than 10 Assessments a 12 months. I used to be very lucky to be a part of a South African crew and to play over 100 Assessments over a interval of 11 years, which suggests you’ve obtained to play someplace round 10 a 12 months. There are challenges within the trendy schedule, but it surely’s at all times nice when your principal Take a look at-playing nations get to play quite a lot of Take a look at cricket,” stated the 58-year-old.Kirsten additionally welcomed Sri Lanka Cricket’s determination to permit free entry for spectators through the collection, saying fuller stadiums create a much better expertise. “It’s higher to have folks within the stadiums than nobody,” he stated. “I don’t know all of the enterprise implications, however from a cricket perspective it’s fantastic.”(Watch the India-Sri Lanka Take a look at collection reside and unique on Sony Sports activities Community and Sony LIV)
