'Change The Coach': WC Winner's Explosive Attack On Gautam Gambhir, Wants MS Dhoni-Like Mentor For Team India

Former India speedster S Sreesanth has strongly criticised current head coach Gautam Gambhir and suggested that Team India would be better off with a mentor rather than a traditional coach.

Speaking during an interaction on Lallantop, Sreesanth shared his views on India’s recent struggles in Test cricket. The Indian team suffered back-to-back home Test series defeats against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa in 2025, both during Gambhir’s tenure as head coach.

When asked about the reasons behind India’s poor performances, Sreesanth did not hold back.

“Change the coach, friend. India needs a mentor, not a coach,” Sreesanth said.

According to him, managing a team is about building relationships and understanding players rather than simply focusing on results.

“You have to be a brother first. You can’t just laugh when you win and get angry when you lose. You’ve done well for the country, that’s great. That doesn’t mean others aren’t trying. Have a mentor over a coach,” he added.

Sreesanth also claimed that Gambhir puts too much pressure on the players. He pointed to former India captain MS Dhoni as an example of a leader who gave players freedom and confidence instead of adding pressure.

In his view, international teams do not always need a coach who constantly pushes players. Instead, he believes a mentor-style figure can help create a better environment within the squad.

Sreesanth further said that many of India’s past successes were driven by Dhoni’s leadership and mindset. He went on to suggest that the current team could benefit from someone with a similar approach.

He also questioned the perception that Gambhir was solely responsible for India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph. Sreesanth argued that several players played crucial roles in helping India lift the trophy.

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“When the team won the World Cup, all the credit went to Gambhir. But if Sanju Samson hadn’t been there, Suryakumar Yadav hadn’t captained, and the bowling changes hadn’t been made at the right time, would we have won the match?” Sreesanth said.

He added that decisions made on the field by players should also be recognised and not be overshadowed by the coach’s contribution.

“Was the coach making decisions on the field? It’s fine if we have a coach like Ashish Nehra, who remains involved,” he added.