The BCCI recently announced Gambhir as the new head coach of the Indian team following Rahul Dravid’s departure. Gambhir, who guided Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title in 2024 as a mentor, took over after India’s T20 World Cup victory ended an 11-year ICC trophy drought in Dravid’s final assignment.
Gambhir’s coaching tenure will begin with an away white-ball series against Sri Lanka, featuring three T20Is and three ODIs, starting on June 27.
In an interview with TimesofIndia.com, Lee, who played 76 Tests, 221 ODIs, and 25 T20Is for Australia between 1999 and 2012, discussed Gambhir’s new role, India’s World Cup triumph, Surya’s remarkable catch, and more. Lee recently represented Australia Legends in the World Championships of Legends. Excerpts:
Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the new head coach of Team India. What are your thoughts on this decision?
He’s (Gautam Gambhir) done a terrific job every time he’s had an opportunity. The Indian Premier League title with KKR is the best example. He’s always been there, always at the top of his game. He finds a way to unite his players and graft his team together. He builds a solid structure. He has been a terrific player, and his aggression and winning attitude will help India. He has shone internationally as a player. India is in safe hands with Gautam Gambhir as coach. Congratulations to Rahul for finishing on a high.
Rohit Sharma led India to a World Cup victory. How do you view his leadership in this achievement?
Big, big congratulations to India. Firstly, it was really good to see them and the emotion on the faces of those cricketers. Virat and Rohit have moved on from the game. There were players from the Australian cricket team who also hung up their boots. So, it was a swan song for a number of players from different countries around the world. One thing I will say is that India played the perfect style of cricket in the T20 World Cup. They looked like a strong side, to be very honest. Massive congratulations to Rohit Sharma and the Indian team. He led from the front in the tournament.
BCCI Photo
What is your reaction to Suryakumar Yadav‘s stunning catch in the final?
Well, catches win you matches, don’t they? I mean, Surya plucked the ball out of the sky. It was a brilliant, title-winning catch. It was a truly spectacular catch.
At 47, how do you maintain your fitness?
Just moderation and eating well. I did a lot of training while I was in India for two and a half months. I trained every single day. I follow proper routines, focusing on exercise and diet plans. That’s it. I’m having fun doing it. As a fast bowler, it’s important to maintain your fitness. I’m probably fitter now than I was when I was playing, to be perfectly honest.
Should India travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy?
Well, we’ll wait and see. I’m not going to get all political.
BCCI Photo
Australia didn’t perform well in the T20 World Cup. What do you think went wrong?
We’re at a bit of a crossroads now with the Australian cricket team. We’ve seen some wonderful performances in the last 12-18 months and some incredible players over the last 10-15 years. Players stepping away from the Aussie cricket team creates holes and gaps but also opportunities. If I look at the top of the order, we have produced some brilliant players in the last 10-15 years.
Now it’s the next generation coming through, like Jake Fraser-McGurk. These players will have some big shoes to fill. David Warner and Aaron Finch are exceptional players who have been performing consistently for many years. It’s time for the next generation of young cricketers to come through and flourish. So, I think it’s positive for Australia. It’s not great that they didn’t win the World Cup, but you have to look ahead and seize those opportunities.
Did Australia make a mistake by choosing Mitchell Marsh as captain over Pat Cummins?
It’s not a matter of what went wrong; it’s about Australia improving and continuing to improve. You can’t win every single game of cricket. They tried their hardest and had a very good squad. They’ve played some really decent cricket in the past. Mitchell Marsh was given the opportunity, and he wanted to grab it with both hands. Pat Cummins has done a terrific job. It’s hard being captain; it’s not easy. The captain has a lot of pressure on them, so it’s a massive job. It’s a job you should take and treat with the utmost respect while enjoying the opportunity. Personally, I thought they would have gone with Pat Cummins, but they gave Mitchell Marsh the opportunity. I’m not part of that inner sanctum at the moment, so it’s very hard to comment on how or why it happened. But they’ve chosen a captain, so back him.