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Rinku Singh praises Gautam Gambhir’s supportive coaching, recalling their KKR days and his mix of aggression, tactical acumen and lighter dressing room moments.
Gautam Gambhir and Rinku Singh together at KKR (Instagram)
India’s middle-order batter Rinku Singh has praised head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025, highlighting the unique balance the former India opener brings to the dressing room.
Known for his aggressive on-field persona and fiery competitiveness, Gambhir, according to Rinku, has another side that is rarely visible to fans.
What Rinku Said About Gambhir?
Rinku, who first worked closely with Gambhir during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season when Gambhir mentored the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), recalled how the former cricketer stood firmly behind him during his early days.
“He backs every player well. During my KKR days, he backed them a lot. He gives freedom to all the players and says go play and do whatever you want to do. You all know that he is aggressive, and one good thing about him is that he likes to win a lot. He always sits during the match and also keeps praying. He also supports a lot,” Rinku was quoted as saying to News24.
The 27-year-old further shared anecdotes that revealed Gambhir’s lighter side. Contrary to his stern appearance on the field, Gambhir enjoys music sessions in the dressing room and even jokes with the senior players.
“It is not that he is always serious. He likes to listen to songs in the dressing room. Ramandeep used to be a DJ in our room. He used to play songs and Gambhir likes to create a cool vibe. He also used to have fun and jokes with the senior players,” added Rinku.
Gambhir’s coaching journey has already seen its highs and lows. After guiding KKR to their third IPL title in 2024 under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, he was appointed as India’s head coach. The transition wasn’t easy — India lost the ODI series against England and endured heavy defeats against New Zealand and Australia in long Test assignments. However, Gambhir’s tactical acumen shone during the recent five-Test series against England, where India twice bounced back to draw the series 2-2.
Now, Gambhir’s immediate challenge is the Asia Cup 2025, where he will reunite with Rinku Singh in India’s 15-member squad.
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha… Read More
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The postRinku Singh Reveals Gautam Gambhir’s Unknown Side: ‘Not That He Is Always Serious’ | Cricket News appeared first on News18