Former India batter Robin Uthappa has extended his support to head coach Gautam Gambhir following a painful series defeat to Sri Lanka. In Gambhir’s first ODI assignment as head coach, the Indian team lost the three-match series to Sri Lanka. The 2-0 series win was Sri Lanka’s first bilateral triumph over India in the format since 1997.
In a series where skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli staged their returns, India suffered three successive batting collapses. Before the 2 joined, the Men in Blue completed a whitewash against the Lankan Lions in the 3-match T20I series.
Reflecting on India’s performances in the Sri Lanka tour, Uthappa vouched for Gambhir’s leadership ability.
“He’s always been someone who thrives under pressure and has consistently sought out big stages to deliver. As far as I’m concerned, I see the same qualities in him as a leader within this group,” Uthappa told The Times of India.
“He (Gambhir) will seek out major opportunities and strive to seize them. As a leader, I can vouch for his ability to create an environment that enables people to thrive. He is that kind of leader – more than just a great captain, he’s also an excellent tactician and an exceptional leader of people. He fosters a culture within the group that encourages success. Gautam Gambhir is a leader who provides security to his players, and we have seen that in action,” Uthappa added.
After suffering an unexpected defeat to Sri Lanka in the ODI series, India will now look to improve in the upcoming 2-match Test and 3-match T20I series against Bangladesh set to commence from September 19.
