Ravichandran Ashwin recently shared his insights on the differing coaching styles of Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid, highlighting the relaxed atmosphere Gambhir fosters compared to Dravid's disciplined approach. Gambhir has been India’s head coach for just over two months, following Dravid’s tenure, and although the team has only played a few matches—including three T20s, three ODIs against Sri Lanka, and a Test against Bangladesh—Ashwin’s observations offer an interesting comparison between the two.
Ashwin, who delivered a standout performance in the first Test against Bangladesh, described Gambhir as a laid-back figure in the dressing room. He humorously referred to Gambhir as "relaxed rancho," emphasising that there’s little pressure under his guidance. "In the morning team huddles, he's easygoing, encouraging players to relax and join him without any stress," Ashwin shared on his YouTube channel.
In contrast, Ashwin recalled Dravid’s more methodical style, saying, "Rahul bhai was very particular; everything had to be in order, even down to the placement of a water bottle. He had a regimented approach and valued precision." Gambhir, however, brings a more flexible and relaxed leadership style that helps build camaraderie within the team.
As one of the few players who has played alongside Gambhir, along with figures like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, Ashwin offers a unique perspective. Gambhir stepped into the head coach role after Dravid opted not to reapply following India’s T20 World Cup victory, with the BCCI appointing Gambhir in June.
Gambhir's early results as head coach have been mixed—India won the T20I series but encountered challenges in the ODI series against Sri Lanka. In the recent Test against Bangladesh, Ashwin’s all-round performance, coupled with Ravindra Jadeja's 86 and Jasprit Bumrah's bowling, helped India establish dominance. Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill's centuries in the second innings further solidified India’s commanding position.
The Indian team will now prepare for the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, set for this Friday.