In the midst of mounting pressure on India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, particularly as the team navigates a challenging phase in their World Test Championship campaign, a significant voice has emerged in his defense. Gary Kirsten, the current coach of Sri Lanka and a former mentor to the Indian team, publicly endorsed Gambhir’s coaching capabilities during a virtual media interaction. Kirsten’s staunch support comes at a crucial juncture, as Indian cricket fans express growing discontent.
Kirsten, who guided India to a memorable World Cup victory between 2008 and 2011, highlighted Gambhir’s impressive coaching track record. He specifically pointed to Gambhir’s successes, including winning a T20 World Cup in 2026 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. Furthermore, Kirsten emphasized Gambhir’s influential role as a team mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders, who triumphed in the 2024 IPL season. “He’s a fantastic coach. He’s had incredible success. His record speaks for itself,” Kirsten stated, recalling his positive experience working with Gambhir during his playing days. He added, “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.”
Gambhir played under Kirsten’s guidance when the South African led the Indian team, a period of significant achievement for Indian cricket. Kirsten himself has a distinguished coaching career, having coached South Africa from 2011 to 2013 and serving as Pakistan’s head coach for white-ball cricket for six months in 2024. Reflecting on his tenure with India, Kirsten described it as “a great three years and a privileged one to work with Indian players.” He fondly remembered the abundance of talent in the dressing room and expressed appreciation for being accepted and feeling that he could contribute meaningfully. He affirmed that he approaches his current role with Sri Lanka with the same dedication and seriousness.
Addressing concerns about India’s recent struggles against quality spin bowling, Kirsten maintained a diplomatic stance. He refrained from divulging whether Sri Lanka would specifically target this perceived weakness. Instead, he stressed that the host nation’s focus remains on executing their own skills effectively rather than obsessing over the opposition. “We would like to bring all our skills into the game, not just spin,” he clarified. “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 continued to parry questions about India’s batting vulnerabilities against spin, consistently redirecting the conversation to Sri Lanka’s preparation. “I’m not here to judge the Indian team,” he asserted. “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.” He also downplayed the notion that Sri Lanka’s bowling strategy would solely revolve around left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, known as the ‘King of Galle’ for his exceptional record at the venue, including 81 wickets in Galle alone and a total of 125 wickets in just 23 Tests. “He’s a world-class bowler and he’s had great success at home,” Kirsten acknowledged. “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.”
A self-proclaimed enthusiast of Test cricket, having played 101 Tests for South Africa, the 58-year-old Kirsten expressed his preference for longer Test series. “I’m a Test match purist. I love Test cricket. And my personal belief is that every country gets to play at least 10 Tests a year,” he shared. He reflected on his own career, stating, “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.”
Kirsten also lauded Sri Lanka Cricket’s initiative to offer free entry to spectators for the series, believing that full stadiums significantly enhance the overall experience. “It’s better to have people in the stadiums than no one,” he remarked. “I don’t know all the business implications, but from a cricket perspective it’s wonderful.” The India-Sri Lanka Test series will be broadcast live and exclusively on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV.
