As Gautam Gambhir prepares for his first major challenge as a coach for the Indian cricket team in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Mitchell Starc shared his thoughts on Gambhir’s cricketing approach. With India set to take on Australia, Gambhir’s leadership will face a stern test, particularly against Australia’s renowned pace attack. However, Australia’s bowlers, including Starc, will also be wary of India’s formidable lineup.
Reflecting on his time with Gambhir at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where the two worked together during the 2024 IPL season, Starc praised the former Indian opener’s tactical mind. “From my experience at Kolkata, Gautam is a brilliant strategist,” Starc told Star Sports. “He constantly thinks about how to outsmart the opposition, whether it’s in terms of taking wickets or building strong batting performances.”
Starc emphasized Gambhir’s team-oriented approach, highlighting that his strategies always consider the bigger picture. “It’s never just about individual performances,” Starc said. “Gautam focuses on the collective, looking for the little details in techniques or field placements that can shift the game in his team’s favor.”
Starc played a crucial role in KKR’s successful campaign in 2024, especially in the playoffs where his bowling performances helped secure key wins. Although his impact during the group stages was moderate, his contribution during the business end of the tournament was vital to KKR’s title run. Reflecting on his time with Gambhir, Starc added, “The nine weeks I spent with him were amazing. His insights in the T20 setup are spot on, and he’s definitely got some good things to offer as a coach.”
As India prepares for the Australia tour, they’ll finish their preparations with a three-match series against New Zealand, starting on October 16 in Bangalore. India comes into the series with momentum, having recently whitewashed Bangladesh 2-0. Australia, on the other hand, will be aiming to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after back-to-back series losses. Starc, an integral part of Pat Cummins’ squad, will be key to Australia’s attempt to secure both the series and valuable World Test Championship points.
