Aakash Chopra opens up about his relationship with Gautam Gambhir
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has candidly discussed his relationship with Gautam Gambhir, the current head coach of India's men's cricket team. In a recent podcast with Raj Shamani on YouTube, Chopra admitted that he and Gambhir were not friends during their playing days due to intense competition for opening spots in the team. He described their relationship as one of competitors rather than comrades.
Chopra praises Gambhir's passion and dedication
Despite their competitive relationship, Chopra expressed admiration for Gambhir's passion and dedication to cricket. He described him as a "very passionate guy, very hardworking, and very serious about his craft." Chopra also highlighted Gambhir's emotional nature on the field, stating that he "always wore his heart on the sleeve" and could have a "short-fuse very quickly in terms of temperament."
Gambhir's journey: From affluent background to passionate cricketer
Chopra further delved into Gambhir's personal background, revealing that he comes from an affluent family. He drew parallels between Gambhir and Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra, stating that both had to overcome the challenges of their privileged backgrounds to achieve success in their respective sports. Chopra emphasized that despite his privileged upbringing, Gambhir displayed an extraordinary level of passion for cricket which was evident in his commitment to the game.
Gambhir's upcoming assignment
Meanwhile, Gambhir's role as India's head coach will be critical in the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, starting on September 19. Gambhir, known for his bold tactics, started his tenure as head coach during India's Sri Lanka tour. This follows mixed outcomes in the T20Is and ODIs versus Sri Lanka, where India triumphed 3-0 in the shortest format but lost 0-2 in ODIs.
