<p class="article-paragraph">'I have a long-standing relationship with Gautam Gambhir': India captain Rohit Sharma asserts that there are 'no issues' with the coaching staff</p>

Sept. 17, 2024, 12:59 p.m.

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When asked about the differences between the current coaching setup and the previous one led by Rahul Dravid, India's captain Rohit Sharma stated on Tuesday that new coach Gautam Gambhir has a distinct approach, but that it is not a cause for concern. Rohit added that he enjoys a positive relationship with Gambhir and his team.

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Gambhir, a former World Cup-winning opener, took the reins of the Indian team in July during a white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. He will now lead the team in its first Test series under his guidance, beginning in Bangladesh on Thursday.

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In Gambhir's first stint as coach, India dominated the T20I series against Sri Lanka, winning all three matches, but fell short in the following ODI series, losing both games.

“Obviously, Rahul bhai, Vikram Rathour (former batting coach) and Paras Mhambrey (former bowling coach) were a different team and it is only acceptable that the new support staff will bring different perspective,” Rohit said in the pre-series press conference here on Tuesday.

“But the matches that we engaged in (with the new staff) in Sri Lanka, they seemed to be sensible and understanding. They began to learn things pretty quickly within the team,” he added.

Dravid’s tenure ended after India’s T20 World Cup triumph in the West Indies and he will next be seen heading the coaching staff of IPL side Rajasthan Royals. Rathour and Mhambrey were replaced by Abhishek Nayar (assistant coach) and South African Morne Morkel (bowling coach), while former Dutch all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate also joined as an assistant coach.

While Nayar's addition to the team was largely expected, Morkel and Doeschate, who worked with Gambhir at the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, emerged as the preferred candidates over former pacers R Vinayakumar and L Balaji for positions within the India support staff.

‘Known GG, Nayar for long’

Rohit used his long association with Gambhir during the latter’s playing days, and with Abhishek Nayar in the Mumbai dressing room to underline his comfortable working relationship with them.

“It’s a new (support) staff for sure, but I have known Gautam Gambhir and Abhishek Nayar long enough. Every support staff has its operating style, and that’s what we were expecting.

Advertisement “I have worked with different coaches over 17 years of my career, and it’s vital to understand that all of them have a unique perspective (about cricket), and it’s a must that you adjust with them,” said Rohit.

While Rohit has never collaborated directly with Morkel and Doeschate, the 37-year-old stated that he has sufficient knowledge of them from their playing careers to establish a comfortable working relationship.

“I have also played matches against Morne Morkel and Ryan ten Doeschate. I have some close encounters with Morkel, but not so much with Ryan, may be a couple of matches. But that doesn’t matter.

“As of now, there have been no issues or problems as such (with the new set of support staff). We have a great understanding of each other.

Advertisement “Good understanding is important, and I have that with them,” he added on his dynamics with the new head coach and his team.

In his first media interaction after taking charge in July, the 42-year-old Gambhir had also rejected apprehensions about his equation with the team’s senior players by citing his familiarity with them during his playing days.

With PTI inputs