‘Communications need to happen’ – Zaheer Khan makes huge statement while comparing Gautam Gambhir’s coaching to Rahul Dravid

Former India pacer Zaheer Khan has made a strong statement on the difference in coaching styles shown by Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid. The comments come just a day before the final ODI match between India and England in Ahmedabad. Zaheer, who has played with both Gambhir and Dravid, was speaking to CRICBUZZ when he made these observations. 

India’s pace legend urged Gambhir to communicate with the players just like Dravid did during his stint as the coach. There have been various voices who have come out and questioned Gambhir’s approach. Former skipper Kris Srikkanth had slammed Gambhir for his treatment of KL Rahul in the first two ODI matches. 

Speaking to CRICBUZZ, the former left-arm pacer said, “You've said that you've got to have the flexibility. Number one and two will be there but the others are going to be flexible. Within that flexibility, some rules also apply. There are certain protocols you have to follow. Certain communication needs to happen, which is gonna streamline things.”

Zaheer also added, “Otherwise, you are creating insecurity, which, at some stage, will come back and hurt you. You don't want it to be the case. So you've got to be prepared to deal with that situation." 

Former India star reveals difference between Dravid and Gambhir 

Rahul Dravid took over as the coach after replacing Ravi Shastri and had a fairly successful stint. Indian cricket team reached the finals of World Test Championships and ODI World Cup in 2023 and lost both times to Australia.

Dravid stepped down as the coach in 2024 after winning the T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. 
When asked the difference between Gambhir and Dravid’s approach, Zaheer Khan said on CRICBUZZ, “That's why I said recency bias is something very strong right now. The situation has become dynamic if you have to compare Rahul Dravid's approach and Gautam Gambhir's approach. You can say it's good, bad or ugly, or you can say, how do we adapt?”

“Each individual is a part of this system, be it the senior management or the think tank, be it the players, be it the selectors. They will have to gauge it, and the entire system needs to be streamlined for the wheel to turn properly,” Zaheer Khan ended by saying to CRICBUZZ.