Chennai, Nov 28: Former South African star AB de Villiers has offered a candid assessment of India head coach Gautam Gambhir, describing him as an “emotional” figure from his playing days and suggesting that such a trait may not always serve a team well in a leadership role.
Speaking to Ravichandran Ashwin on the Indian off-spinner’s YouTube channel, de Villiers reflected on India’s recent Test struggles, which include a 0-2 home series defeat to South Africa — their second consecutive whitewash on home soil. With India’s long-standing aura of invincibility at home beginning to fray, questions over Gambhir’s future have intensified. Under his tenure, India have lost two Test series at home, including a landmark defeat to New Zealand last year, their first in 12 years, as well as five successive Tests against SENA nations.
De Villiers, who faced Gambhir numerous times during their international careers, noted that emotional intensity does not always translate well into coaching.
“I knew him as an emotional player, and if that carries into the dressing room, an emotional coach is generally not ideal,” he said. “But that is not to say he leads that way. Every dressing room reacts differently — some players prefer a former player guiding them, others respond to someone who has never played at the highest level. Gautam has years of coaching experience behind him.”
The former Proteas captain added that he had never worked directly with either South Africa coach Shukri Conrad or Gambhir but praised Conrad’s measured nature and analytical approach.
“Shukri has coached domestic sides for years. He’s calm, makes decisions with a mix of statistics and instinct, and works closely with players. But that only functions well when supported by senior leaders — guys like Kagiso Rabada, Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram.”
De Villiers also drew comparisons with Gary Kirsten, under whom he thrived, highlighting how some players take comfort from having a decorated former cricketer in charge.
“It can inspire you to push harder when someone who has done it all is in the dressing room,” he said.
India’s latest defeat came in brutal fashion. Senuran Muthusamy’s maiden Test century and a blistering 93 from Marco Jansen propelled South Africa to 489 in the first innings. India faltered to 201 in reply before the visitors stretched their lead to 548, courtesy of Tristan Stubbs’ fluent 94. Chasing an improbable 549, India folded for 140, undone by Simon Harmer’s six-wicket haul, slumping to their heaviest Test defeat — a 408-run drubbing. (Agencies)
