Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik said on Tuesday, September 17 that head coach Gautam Gambhir’s past displays of aggression have always been in support of his players. According to Karthik, Gambhir’s assertiveness is always justified and something that the players will appreciate about the head coach.

‘Gambhir’s Best Interest Is To Get The Best Out Of The Players’: Karthik

“His aggression has generally come out in protection of his players and that is something the current lot of players will enjoy. Knowing him, he is not someone who gets angry for the heck of it,” Karthik told reporters on the sidelines of a Legends League Cricket event.

“I’m sure he will have his turn with strong words for whoever it is required, and it is in his best interest to get the best out of the players, he added.

According to Karthik, Gambhir lacks coaching experience in Test cricket and his first assignment against Bangladesh will be on his mind.

“He has been a part of numerous T20 tournaments. But this Test series will be completely new for him as a coach and it must be playing at the back of his mind,” Karthik said.

“He is someone who has navigated through tough waters. He’s got the acumen to understand the pulse of the game, which is extremely important as a coach.

“He is at a very early stage as a coach, so it will be interesting how it pans out. However, I have confidence that he will deliver on all aspects. So far, it has worked well for him, Karthik added.

Bangladesh Confident After Win Against Pakistan

Bangladesh recently defeated Pakistan in Test series and this historic win has given a lot of confidence to the Bangladesh tigers.

“It will start with a lot of confidence from Bangladesh. (For India) it’s about understanding that they are playing a slightly different Bangladesh team,” he said.

“But, India in India is a different kettle of fish to beat. It’s not going to be in any way as easy as compared to going outside and beating other countries in their backyard.

“Many teams have come to India and found it challenging and Bangladesh will also find its challenges in the next couple of weeks, he said.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Karthik also mentioned about the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which will be commencing from November 22 at Perth.

“The BGT will be a challenge for Team India. The current Australian team is in form and (is) a pretty well-oiled unit. It’s not by chance that they won the World Test Championship, he said.

“It will be tough for India. But considering the grit and resilience that India has, it will be a wonderful series to watch,” he added.