“You may not like what he says” - Former India batter compares Gautam Gambhir and Greg Chappell after 1-3 loss in BGT 2024-25

Amid poor red-ball results recently, former India batter Robin Uthappa has defended current head coach Gautam Gambhir, lauding him for being upfront and honest. After Rahul Dravid's departure, Gambhir took over as India's head coach in July 2024.

However, after a 3-0 T20I series win in Sri Lanka, India endured a surprising 0-2 ODI series loss to the Lankans. Things continued heading south when a 2-0 home Test series victory against Bangladesh was followed by a horrific 0-3 Test series whitewash against New Zealand at home.

More recently, India suffered a 1-3 Test series loss in Australia to surrender the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) for the first time since 2014-15.

Gambhir's relationship with the players has also been scrutinized, similar to when Greg Chappell was India's head coach in the mid-2000s.

Talking about the comparison on the YouTube channel 'Lallantop,' Uthappa said (as quoted by Hindustan Times):

"I disagree with you that his style is similar to Greg Chappell’s. I don’t agree with it at all. I have not met a more straightforward person than Gauti. He is very direct. You may not like what he says, but he will tell it you on your face, you can be sure of that and I love people like that. According to me, these people have a good life."

He added:

"They say whatever they are thinking, and that is enough. You get what you see, that is better than being a different person behind someone’s back. I prefer someone being straightforward with me, and Gauti is very, very straight."

India underachieved massively under Chappell at the 2007 ODI World Cup, missing the Super Eights after defeats to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

"He respects and likes Rohit a lot" - Robin Uthappa on Gautam Gambhir

The Gambhir-Rohit partnership hasn't started on a positive note [Credit: Getty]

Robin Uthappa also dismissed growing concerns about Gautam Gambhir's relationship with skipper Rohit Sharma. Uthappa believes Gambhir has much respect for Rohit and that the relationship should blossom over time.

"Here they are probably finding the chemistry of the dynamic. It hasn’t been set yet, probably with Bumrah, he was leading his first Test, so the chemistry was better. Some just probably click and some take some time to click. It is not like the chemistry is not there. It is there and you can see in Gambhir’s interviews. He respects and likes Rohit a lot. Sometimes, relationships take time, as both are leaders with their own styles," Uthappa said in the same interview.

Uthappa also opined that having different captains across formats during Gambhir's stint hasn't been fruitful.

"He likes to run the ship and right now after the World Cup and him joining the team, he is joining a side of two different teams, infact three different leaders now. You have SKY, Rohit and then the ODI side is Hardik right? It is still Rohit, sorry. There are those different styles he has to adjust to right now, one where he has complete control, with T20Is. He is running the ship and he is taking SKY along and evolving him as a leader. There is freedom there," he added.

Gambhir and India's next assignment will be the white-ball home series against England, starting January 22.