Australia’s leading fast bowler Mitchell Starc has lauded India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir, recognizing him as a “fantastic thinker” of the game. As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) looms on the horizon, Starc shared his admiration for Gambhir’s strategic mindset and team-first approach.
The Gambhir era for Indian cricket has begun with a positive outlook. Despite a setback in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, the team has excelled in other challenges. Gambhir, who recently took over from Rahul Dravid as head coach. Will face his biggest test yet in the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which kicks off on November 22 in Perth.
Speaking ahead of the series, Starc heaped praise on Gambhir for his tactical prowess and emphasis on team dynamics over individual brilliance.
“From my time with him at Kolkata, I can say he’s a fantastic thinker of the game,” Starc said in an interview with Star Sports. “He’s always analyzing the opposition, whether it’s working out how to dismiss batters or how to score runs. His focus is always on the team, not just individual players. He’s great at identifying subtle things like field placements or technical aspects of a player’s game that could be exploited. I really enjoyed my nine weeks with him, and he’s got some excellent strategies.”
Starc vs Kohli: A Rivalry Reignited as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Approaches
Starc’s optimism for the upcoming series remains high. One of the most anticipated matchups will be between the left-arm pacer and Indian star Virat Kohli. The two have had several intense battles on the field, with Kohli having the upper hand in Test cricket. Although Starc has managed to dismiss him a couple of times.
Reflecting on his rivalry with Kohli, Starc acknowledged that he relishes their face-offs. “I always enjoy my battles with Virat. We’ve played a lot of cricket against each other, and it’s always a competitive contest. I’ve gotten him out once or twice, and he’s scored a lot of runs against me too. It’s a challenge we both look forward to,” Starc remarked.
As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy approaches, two cricketing powerhouses prepare for a thrilling series, with Gambhir and Starc expected to play pivotal roles in driving their teams’ strategies and success.
