Gary Kirsten Backs Gautam Gambhir Amid Pressure on India Head Coach

Sri Lanka head coach Gary Kirsten has strongly backed India's under-fire head coach Gautam Gambhir, asserting that the former Indian opener's coaching credentials and track record speak for themselves.

Kirsten's comments come at a time when India is facing the possibility of another setback in their World Test Championship campaign. This situation has led to growing criticism from cricket fans in India directed toward Gambhir. However, speaking during a virtual media interaction on Thursday, Kirsten threw his weight behind his former player.

Kirsten, who coached the Indian national team from 2008 to 2011, highlighted Gambhir's achievements both as a player and in coaching roles. Gambhir previously played under Kirsten during the South African's successful tenure with the Indian team.

Kirsten Praises Gambhir's Coaching Record

Describing Gambhir as a "fantastic coach," Kirsten pointed to his recent achievements on the international and domestic stages. He noted that Gambhir has secured significant victories, including a T20 World Cup in 2026 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, alongside success in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the team mentor for the 2024 champions, Kolkata Knight Riders.

"His record speaks for itself," Kirsten said. "I really enjoyed working with him when he was a player. He’s a smart cricketer and I knew he’d have success as coach."

Reflecting on his own three-year tenure with the Indian team, Kirsten expressed gratitude for his time in the role before later coaching South Africa from 2011 to 2013 and serving as Pakistan's white-ball head coach for six months in 2024.

"It was a great three years and a privileged one to work with Indian players," Kirsten said. "There was a lot of skill in that dressing room. What I appreciated was that they accepted me into their space and felt I could add value. I’ve approached the Sri Lankan role with the same seriousness."

Sri Lanka's Strategy and Focus on Strengths

While India has recently shown a tendency to struggle against quality spin bowling, Kirsten declined to reveal whether Sri Lanka would specifically target this apparent vulnerability. Instead, he emphasized that the hosts are focused on executing their own game plan rather than obsessing over their opponents.

"We would like to bring all our skills into the game, not just spin," Kirsten explained. "Whether you’re a seamer or a spinner, if you’re executing your skills properly, you’ll be in the game. We’ve done our homework on India and identified areas we may be able to exploit, but cricket unfolds session by session and you adapt accordingly."

Kirsten remained diplomatic when asked about India's recent batting difficulties against spin, choosing to redirect the focus toward Sri Lanka's preparation and depth.

"I’m not here to judge the Indian team," he stated. "They are a quality side with tremendous depth. Our responsibility is to make sure we’re ready, both in terms of skill execution and strategy. The focus remains on our strengths."

Team Tactics and the Value of Test Cricket

Kirsten also downplayed suggestions that Sri Lanka's bowling plans would center exclusively on left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya. Known as the "King of Galle," Jayasuriya has taken 125 wickets in 23 Tests, with 81 of those dismissals occurring at the Galle venue.

"He’s a world-class bowler and he’s had great success at home," Kirsten said. "But we don’t build our bowling strategy around one player. Every bowler has a role to play. It’s obviously great to have him in the mix though."

The 58-year-old Sri Lanka coach, who played 101 Test matches for South Africa, reiterated his strong advocacy for the longest format of the game, expressing a preference for longer Test series.

"I’m a Test match purist. I love Test cricket," Kirsten said. "And my personal belief is that every country gets to play at least 10 Tests a year. I was very fortunate to be part of a South African team and to play over 100 Tests over a period of 11 years, which means you’ve got to play somewhere around 10 a year. There are challenges in the modern schedule, but it’s always great when your main Test-playing nations get to play a lot of Test cricket."

Additionally, Kirsten welcomed the decision by Sri Lanka Cricket to grant free entry to spectators for the series, noting that full stadiums significantly enhance the match experience. He remarked that having people in the stadiums is wonderful from a cricketing perspective, regardless of the business implications.