On Tuesday, the BCCI announced the appointment of 2011 ODI World Cup winner Gambhir as the new head coach of the senior men's team.
"As a player, he has won two World Cups and as a leader, he will lead India to another World Cup glory. A true leader brings out the best in his players," Bhardwaj told IANS, when asked how he felt after his protégé became the head coach of the Indian cricket team.
"Gautam Gambhir 'ne khela bhi hai aur jhela bhi bohot hai (Gautam Gambhir has not only played but he has also faced numerous challenges). A man who has endured so much will ensure that no one else suffers."
Reflecting on Gambhir's journey from player to Member of Parliament and now head coach of Team India, the Dronacharya award winner said: "Gambhir endured challenges in all aspects of life, and those who face challenges have no doubts in his actions. He thrives in situations where challenges are prominent. Depending on how he has approached challenges in his life, he will also excel in the future."
Sharing his opinion on how the young players will fare under Gambhir's guidance, Bhardwaj stated that he will not put unnecessary pressure on any player and the youngsters will be given the freedom to play without any hesitation.
"The young players will have a free hand to play without any hesitation. He will not put unnecessary pressure on any player. He was the one who brought in Umesh Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav and Navdeep Saini because he knew their qualities. If you can, open Sunil Narine, which was a big challenge...If this play had failed, then people would have said that Gambhir had guessed it. Everything he did was in the best interest of the team," he said.
Talking about Gambhir's aggressive nature on the field as a player and leader, Bhardwaj commented that things can be seen differently on social media, noting that Gambhir's heated exchanges happened for specific reasons.
"Things appear in different ways on social media. Any of your heated discussions happened for some reason... This is a game where you will have to remain a fighter. You have to play for victory. If you don't always play for victory, you can't make the team win and you can't be a good leader.
Furthermore, he revealed his conversation with Gambhir after his appointment as head coach, expressing his best wishes for Gambhir to win two or three World Cups during his tenure as coach.
"You have brought out the best quality in the players. You are impartial and know how to recognize the players. I pray to God that whatever your qualities, you fulfill your responsibilities by keeping them impartial. Having won two World Cups as a player, I will now guide India to win 2 or 3 World Cups as a coach," concluded Bhardwaj.
"As a player, he has won two World Cups and as a leader, he will lead India to another World Cup glory. A true leader brings out the best in his players," Bhardwaj told IANS, when asked how he felt after his protégé became the head coach of the Indian cricket team.
"Gautam Gambhir 'ne khela bhi hai aur jhela bhi bohot hai (Gautam Gambhir has not only played but he has also faced numerous challenges). A man who has endured so much will ensure that no one else suffers."
Reflecting on Gambhir's journey from player to Member of Parliament and now head coach of Team India, the Dronacharya award winner said: "Gambhir endured challenges in all aspects of life, and those who face challenges have no doubts in his actions. He thrives in situations where challenges are prominent. Depending on how he has approached challenges in his life, he will also excel in the future."
Sharing his opinion on how the young players will fare under Gambhir's guidance, Bhardwaj stated that he will not put unnecessary pressure on any player and the youngsters will be given the freedom to play without any hesitation.
"The young players will have a free hand to play without any hesitation. He will not put unnecessary pressure on any player. He was the one who brought in Umesh Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav and Navdeep Saini because he knew their qualities. If you can, open Sunil Narine, which was a big challenge...If this play had failed, then people would have said that Gambhir had guessed it. Everything he did was in the best interest of the team," he said.
Talking about Gambhir's aggressive nature on the field as a player and leader, Bhardwaj commented that things can be seen differently on social media, noting that Gambhir's heated exchanges happened for specific reasons.
"Things appear in different ways on social media. Any of your heated discussions happened for some reason... This is a game where you will have to remain a fighter. You have to play for victory. If you don't always play for victory, you can't make the team win and you can't be a good leader.
Furthermore, he revealed his conversation with Gambhir after his appointment as head coach, expressing his best wishes for Gambhir to win two or three World Cups during his tenure as coach.
"You have brought out the best quality in the players. You are impartial and know how to recognize the players. I pray to God that whatever your qualities, you fulfill your responsibilities by keeping them impartial. Having won two World Cups as a player, I will now guide India to win 2 or 3 World Cups as a coach," concluded Bhardwaj.
