Former India all-rounderIrfan Pathan has showered praises on India’s coach Gautam Gambhir for guiding his team to the T20 World Cup 2026 victory. Indian team, coached by Gambhir, won the multi-nation event at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on March 8, beating New Zealand. 

After India’s historic triumph, Pathan credited his former India colleague for his exemplary coaching. The left-hander felt that despite Gambhir facing lots of criticism, he never stopped from believing in his vision.

“Gautam Gambhir faced a lot of criticism. It was not easy, and at times it even felt unnecessary. But the way he handled himself and kept moving forward with his vision was impressive, even when many things seemed to be going against him. Credit must go to him as well. Of course, the players deserve full credit for the way they played, but managing them, showing strong man-management skills, and bringing the best out of them was equally important,” said Pathan on his YouTube channel.

The 41-year-old further pointed out a great camaraderie between coach and the captain Suryakumar Yadav. According to Pathan, the two have been a great duo with Suryakumar constantly seeking help from the former India opener, and that was critical for the team’s performance.

“It was often seen that Surya kept communicating with Gautam Gambhir through signals from the field. Even today, during the powerplay when Bumrah had bowled one over, Surya signaled to Gautam about giving him another over. Bumrah eventually bowled two overs in the powerplay. This was not a one-time incident; such communication was seen regularly,” he added.

"So very well done Gautam Gambhir, and very well done Suryakumar Yadav as the leader. The way they managed and guided this team has been outstanding. India has won another trophy and has now become world champion three times. So well done, Team India," he concluded.

Gambhir, after being appointed India's head coach in July 2024, has had mixed results. He has managed to win two ICC events: Champions Trophy 2025 and T20 World Cup 2026 in white-ball cricket.