Gautam Gambhir overreacting to Shubman Gill criticism? Ex-cricketer advises India coach to 'take a chill pill'

Sanjay Manjrekar believes Gautam Gambhir during a press conference.

In a lighthearted remark, Sanjay Manjrekar said that Gautam Gambhir should calm down when answering questions about player criticism at press conferences. Gambhir didn't mince words while addressing those who questioned Shubman Gill's leadership skills following the fourth Test, offering a characteristically blunt defense of the youthful captain.

"No one has any doubt in Shubman Gill's talent. Those who did, don't know cricket; they can only talk. Some players need time to blossom in international cricket. And to be honest, no one in the dressing room is surprised that Shubman has done well on this tour. And honestly, even if he didn't perform, no one would have pointed fingers. Those who know cricket understand what he is capable of. And the important thing is that he is living up to his expectations, his own talent and captaincy. Even this thing that people talk about all the time, 'Captaincy pressure', you don’t see anything of that kind when he goes into bat," Gambhir said in the press conference.

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Before the series began, Gill was being scrutinized since he was named Test captain without demonstrating his ability to bat against the red ball. But after a memorable series that saw him score more than 700 runs, the 25-year-old silenced his detractors. Manjrekar claimed that some questions irritated Gambhir, pointing out that one of them is having doubts about Shubman Gill.

"Gambhir was exactly like it, he's always been, and yeah, you can see that there are certain questions that get under his skin about people doubting Shubman Gill as a young captain and batter, and those are valid doubts," Manjrekar said on JioHotstar after the match.

Reminding the head coach that everyone wants the best for Indian cricket in the end, the former cricketer asked Gambhir to see the difference between himself and his critics.

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"I mean, people who understand cricket also wonder whether it's the right time to get that opportunity, and I hope he can just understand that better, and it's never you guys think and we guys think we are all part of the same industry and the country as well," he added.

Additionally, he advised Gambhir to learn how to support challenging questions during news conferences and to handle such situations with a more upbeat demeanor rather than taking criticism personally.

"So I just want him to sort of take a chill pill sometimes and just take it easy and answer questions and encourage questions that are tough, and I don't know whether that's likely to happen. I'd like to see at some stage Gautam Gambhir having that quality," he concluded.