Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain and BCCI president, has offered his assessment of Gautam Gambhir's performance as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. In a recent interview, Ganguly provided a balanced view, acknowledging Gambhir's initial struggles but also highlighting his subsequent improvement, particularly after India's victory in the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Ganguly stated, "Gautam (Gambhir) is doing a good job. He started off a little slow, losing to Australia and New Zealand, but he picked up with the Champions Trophy. This is going to be a big series (vs England)." This statement reflects a measured endorsement of Gambhir, recognizing both the challenges he faced early in his tenure and his ability to bounce back.

Gambhir took over as head coach from Rahul Dravid in July 2024, following Dravid's successful stint that included a T20 World Cup win. While Gambhir has previously served as a mentor for IPL teams like Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders (leading KKR to the IPL 2024 title), the Indian national team job is his first formal coaching role at the international level.

Ganguly, who has played alongside Gambhir and has observed him from close quarters, lauded Gambhir's passion and straightforward approach. "I haven't seen him from very close in this role, but I know he is very passionate. I haven't observed his strategies closely because I haven't worked with him as a coach," Ganguly said. He further added, "He's very straightforward, he sees things clearly, and he's very open about what he feels — about the team, players, people, everything. From the outside, you can tell he's a very transparent person — what you see is what you get."

Ganguly also recalled Gambhir's respectful demeanor during their playing days. "I've played with him. He was a great guy with a lot of respect for me and the senior players. Even now, I can see he is extremely passionate about his job." He emphasized the importance of giving Gambhir time to grow into the role. "I wish him all the best. He's just a year into the job, and this will be an important (England) tour. He struggled a bit in Australia, but just like everyone else, he'll learn, he'll grow, and he'll become better."

While acknowledging Gambhir's strong start in T20Is, some reports suggest that his performance in Test cricket has been underwhelming. Ganguly's comments come at a crucial time, with India preparing for a significant series against England. The series will be a key test of Gambhir's coaching abilities and his ability to guide the team to success in the longer format of the game.

In addition to his comments on Gambhir, Ganguly also addressed his own future plans. While he has repeatedly dismissed any interest in entering politics, he remains open to the possibility of coaching the Indian team in the future. "I never really thought about it because I got into different roles," Ganguly said. "I finished (competitive cricket) in 2013 and then became Board (BCCI) President...We'll see what the future holds. I'm just 50 (53), so let's see what happens. I'm open to it. We'll see where it goes."