Gautam Gambhir Hailed as Premier Pacer Reveals Indian Coach’s Mentoring Skills

Harshit Rana, also an admirer of Gautam Gambhir's aura, previously said it was missed by the Kolkata Knight Riders during their 2025 IPL campaign.

Gautam Gambhir Hailed as Premier Pacer Reveals Indian Coach’s Mentoring Skills

Harshit Rana talked about his bond with Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir. (via Hindustan Times)

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Young Indian pacer Harshit Rana most recently talked about the bond that he shares with Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir, affectionately calling him an ‘elder brother’. Rana shared his experiences of playing under Gambhir’s mentorship, both with the national team and in the IPL.

Harshit Rana has emerged as one of the brightest prospects in Indian cricket, earning a spot on the national team at just 22 years old. The Delhi pacer rose to prominence after his initial stint with Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2022 IPL season, where he was brought in as a mid-season replacement for Rasikh Salam Dar in the team. He made his debut for the team on 28 April 2022, then going to achieve wonders.

Rana made an impact under Gautam Gambhir’s mentorship, when the former India batter joined KKR as a mentor. His career-high point came during the 2024 IPL season, where he finished as the joint fourth-highest wicket-taker with 19 scalps in 13 matches and helped the team win their third title. Shortly after, when Gambhir became the head coach of the national team, he called up Rana to join the Indian squad.

Despite criticism over his limited experience in red-ball cricket, having only played 13 First-Class matches, the young pacer was added to the team for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, making his debut in Perth.

Although he only took four wickets in that series, he soon got his opportunity to play for India in the white-ball formats. Harshit Rana was later selected for the 2025 Champions Trophy squad, where he impressed with a maiden three-wicket haul against Bangladesh.

The 23-year-old has over time, received consistent backing from Gautam Gambhir, a move that has been criticized by fans and former players. In spite of his ordinary showing against Australia, Rana was once again given his second opportunity, when he was added to the Indian squad as an injury cover for the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, ahead of the likes of Mukesh Kumar and Anshul Kamboj. 

Thereafter, the KKR pacer credits much of his rise in the Indian cricket setup to Gautam Gambhir, and he most recently spoke about their bond, describing the 43-year-old as an ‘elder brother’. He explained that Gambhir has always been by his side, guiding and motivating him whenever he was feeling low or failed to perform on the pitch. He added that the guidance he received from Gambhir helped him to excel. Rana told News Nation Sports’ Ayush Kant Dubey:

Gautam Gambhir is like an elder brother to me. He always guides me, motivates me. Whenever I feel low or I’m unable to perform on ground, he always guides me to do better in each circumstances.

Furthermore, following KKR’s disappointing 2025 IPL campaign, Harshit Rana had also talked about how Gautam Gambhir carries a team forward and how much he missed him during that season. The 23-year-old’s next opportunity to play for India could be in the upcoming 2025 Asia Cup in the UAE.

Australian Legend Slams Gautam Gambhir Over his Spat With Oval Pitch Curator, Before Final Test

Legendary Australian batter Matthew Hayden reflected on Gautam Gambhir’s heated altercation with the Oval’s head pitch curator, ahead of the fifth Test between India and England. Gambhir engaged in an ugly spat with the curator, Lee Fortis, during India’s practice session. 

Gautam Gambhir on Oval argument
Matthew Hayden suggested that Gautam Gambhir should have used ‘better language’ in his spat with the Oval pitch curator. (via One Cricket)

The Indian head coach was reportedly heard warning the pitch curator and angrily telling him to ‘stay within his limits’. The altercation stemmed from the Indian team’s use of the pitch square for practice, which Fortis had opposed. Hayden recently shared his opinion, stating that Gambhir should have used ‘better language’, and that the angry altercation could have been avoided by the curator. He said on All Over Bar The Cricket:

They [English] are going to try and make it difficult on Gautam Gambhir. But I think he’s got every right to tone it down. He could have used better language.

Hayden, however, also acknowledged that Gautam Gambhir was right to call out the head groundsman at the Oval for his unnecessary antics. He noted that the curator was trying to assert his authority over the pitch, adding that such behavior is common in England.