Gautam Gambhir and Gary Kirsten may now find themselves in opposition camps, but their long association with each other remains evident. The two coaches shared a warm interaction on the sidelines of the Galle Test, where India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs on Wednesday to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Kirsten, who is currently coaching Sri Lanka, has a special connection with Indian cricket and Gambhir in particular. The South African was India’s head coach when the team lifted the 50-over World Cup in 2011, with Gambhir playing a crucial role in that campaign.
Gambhir has previously spoken about Kirsten’s influence on him during his playing days. The pair were seen chatting during the Test, and after the match, Kirsten explained what they had discussed.
Rather than looking back at their time together, the conversation centred on coaching, the challenges involved and their shared understanding of Test cricket.
“We didn’t do much reminiscing; we actually spoke about coaching and the challenges of coaching, and we both have strong values around Test cricket. So we had a good conversation around that, obviously trying to help our players play the best cricket they can, in both countries,” Kirsten told reporters in the post-match press conference.
The Sri Lanka coach added that he and Gambhir have similar views on how they want their respective teams to approach the longest format.
“So we spoke about that, and I think we have very similar ideas about how we want our teams to play Test cricket. So yeah, we had a good conversation about that,” he added.
Gambhir became India’s head coach in July 2024, while Kirsten took charge of Sri Lanka earlier this year after replacing Sanath Jayasuriya.
Kirsten had also offered his support to Gambhir before the ongoing series, amid criticism of India’s Test performances. He highlighted Gambhir’s achievements and backed him to succeed in his coaching career.
“He has won a T20 World Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy. He’s also had success in the IPL. His record speaks for itself. I really enjoyed working with him when he was a player,” Kirsten had said.
“He’s a smart cricketer, and I knew he’d have success as a coach,” he added.
Gambhir had come under pressure following India’s two-match Test series loss to South Africa last year. India’s hopes of reaching the final of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle have also taken a hit, with the team needing to win six of its remaining eight matches to have any chance of making the final.
The victory in Galle, however, offered India a much-needed boost. The visitors dominated large parts of the Test before completing a 165-run victory and moving 1-0 ahead in the series.
India and Sri Lanka will meet again in the second Test, which is scheduled to begin in Colombo on August 23.
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