Throwback Thursday: When Gautam Gambhir was upset with Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni; wanted to bench Rishabh?Pant

As a player, politician, coach for an Indian Premier League (IPL) team, and now the head coach of the Indian cricket team, Gautam Gambhir has always been the talk of the town¡ªmainly for his unique and controversial perspectives.

Known as 'Gauti,' Gambhir has never shied away from raising his voice on issues he believes need attention. However, there have been several instances where the Southpaw's statements have rubbed fans the wrong way, sparking trouble and controversies. Here¡¯s a look at some of Gautam Gambhir's most contentious remarks.

Remark on foreign coaches

Gambhir did not like that the Indian cricket team was going after foreign coaches. He at a Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) event years ago had said, "One of the best things to happen in Indian cricket in the last six or seven years is that Indians have started coaching the Indian cricket team. I firmly believe this. Indians should coach their own team. These foreign coaches, whom we often elevate, come here, make their money, and then disappear.

He added, "Sports are driven by emotions, and only those who have represented India can truly feel that passion for Indian cricket. Whether it's Rahul Dravid now, or earlier Ravi Shastri and Anil Kumble, I hope this trend continues. Ask Rahul Dravid, and he'll probably be more passionate than anyone else. I only wish I had the chance to play under any of these Indian coaches". Interestingly, coach Gambhir does have Ryan ten Doeschate as the Men's assistant coach and Morn¨¦ Morkel as the bowling coach under him.

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MS Dhoni's six

It's widely known that Gautam Gambhir's relationship with former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hasn't been smooth. Over the years, there have been several reports of rifts between the two and Gambhir's statements about MS Dhoni leave no room for doubt either.

Gambhir, known for his outspoken remarks, had made a bold statement, saying, "Just a reminder, the 2011 World Cup was won by the entire Indian team and all the support staff. It's high time you let go of your obsession with that SIX." He added, "Jo Aakhri Run Banata Hai, Wahi Jitata Hai" (He who scores the final run wins).

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Virat Kohli's captaincy

The bitter-sweet relation with Virat Kohli hasn't been hidden either. While they had their war-of-words during the IPL, Gambhir had also made a statement that Kohli's success as a captain is primarily attributed to having the presence of both MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma in the team.

According to DNA, Gambhir said, "Virat Kohli is a good captain for India only because he has MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma behind him. If you are talking about Kohli the captain, he would have won RCB an IPL title since he has taken over the captaincy there. Most of the times his team RCB has finished on number 8."

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'Need to drop Rishabh Pant'

In December 2022, before Rishabh Pant's accident, Gambhir had suggested Pant should be dropped from white-ball cricket and focus on Tests. "First, the selectors need to be clear whether he's been rested or dropped. In my opinion, he should have been dropped from white-ball cricket. There¡¯s never been enough clarity on this. The term 'rest' is convenient, but when we played, it was either being dropped or selected." Gambhir had said to ESPN Cricinfo.

"Rishabh has had his chances in white-ball cricket but hasn't seized them, while someone like Ishan Kishan has made the most of his opportunity. Now, maybe he should focus solely on red-ball cricket. If his opportunity comes again, he should grab it.

"I don't see that happening soon if Ishan continues his form. We keep talking about the 'template,' but players like Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav naturally fit into it".

He added, that Rishabh had multiple chances in white-ball cricket, but hasn't succeeded. Focusing on Tests could help the wicketkeeper-batter improve his keeping and batting at No. 5 or 6.

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'R Ashwin should play at no. 4' in CWC 2019

Gambhir once had also suggested that Ravichandran Ashwin should play at No. 4, believing it would add balance to the team. In early 2019, he backed the off-spinner for the spot, saying it would work well in England's conditions, with flat or worn-out pitches where a finger-spinner could be effective.

However, despite Ashwin's strong record, he was replaced by wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. In a promotional event, Gambhir said "I think R Ashwin is someone who we should always consider because we are looking at conditions in England during that time of the year. Wickets could be flat and worn out. So a finger-spinner can be effective with the ball as well,"

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However, a couple of months later, Gambhir reversed his stance, instead suggesting Sanju Samson for the No. 4 spot and later stating that Ambati Rayudu would have been a better option.

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