As Gautam Gambhir prepares for his debut coaching challenge with the Indian national team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, one of Australia’s key bowlers, Mitchell Starc, shared insights into his experience of working with Gambhir during his time at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Starc highlighted Gambhir’s tactical brilliance and team-focused mindset, which played a significant role in KKR’s success.
In an interview with Star Sports, Starc praised Gambhir’s strategic approach during their time together at KKR. “From my experience in Kolkata, he’s a fantastic thinker of the game. He’s always analyzing the opposition and figuring out how to break them down, whether it’s setting a bowling plan or devising a strategy to score runs,” Starc said. He also noted Gambhir’s emphasis on team dynamics rather than individual performances. “It’s never about just one player. He focuses on the team and finding small ways to gain an edge, whether through field placements or exploiting technical weaknesses in the opposition.”
Starc, who played a pivotal role in KKR’s title-winning campaign in 2024, credited Gambhir for fostering a strong team environment. Despite a relatively quiet group stage, Starc came alive in the playoffs, where his wickets helped secure crucial victories. Reflecting on his time under Gambhir’s leadership, Starc said, “The nine weeks I spent with him were fantastic. He has a sharp cricketing mind, especially in the T20 format, and knows how to get the best out of his players.”
As India gears up for their home series against New Zealand, starting October 16 in Bangalore, Gambhir will be looking to build on India’s momentum from their recent 2-0 victory over Bangladesh. The series will serve as important preparation for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India will face a determined Australian side. Australia, led by Pat Cummins, will be eager to reclaim the trophy after two consecutive series defeats, both at home and in India. With Mitchell Starc as a key component of their pace attack, the Aussies will also be eyeing valuable World Test Championship (WTC) points.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy promises to be a highly competitive series, with both teams looking to assert their dominance and achieve critical victories.
