“Let India have a bad game…”: A Bangladesh cricketer’s bold comment on Gautam Gambhir’s character

In Gautam Gambhir’s first Test as head coach of the Indian cricket team, India secured a convincing 280-run victory over Bangladesh in Chennai last week. Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal shared his thoughts on Gambhir’s early tenure, noting that while the former Indian opener has a strong reputation—having led Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title earlier this year—it’s still premature to fully assess his coaching abilities.

Speaking before the start of the second Test in Kanpur, Tamim remarked that the true character of a coach becomes apparent during challenging times. “When you’re winning, you don’t know the real character of the man. It’s only when you lose a series, then another, that the real character emerges. No doubt, he is capable, but it’s too early. Let India have a bad game, then we will see what happens,” he stated on Sports 18.

In the second Test, India’s captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bowl first, maintaining the same lineup that secured the series lead. India currently leads the two-match series 1-0 and is looking to capitalize on their momentum.

On the other hand, Bangladesh made a couple of changes to their team, bringing in Khaled Ahmed and Taijul Islam to replace Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana. The match experienced a delayed start due to a wet outfield, which was a concern for both teams.

As both teams took to the field, the anticipation was high. India’s lineup included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. Meanwhile, Bangladesh featured Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wicketkeeper), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, and Khaled Ahmed.

As the match progressed, both teams aimed to prove themselves, with India looking to extend their dominance and Bangladesh striving for a comeback in the series. Tamim’s comments added an intriguing layer to the narrative, suggesting that Gambhir’s coaching ability would be put to the test in the face of adversity.