Sanjay Manjrekar dismisses Coach's impact on Indian cricket victories

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has stirred a debate on social media with his controversial remarks about the role of coaches in the Indian cricket team. 

As Gautam Gambhir gears up to start his tenure as the head coach of the Indian men's national team, Manjrekar has suggested that there's no direct correlation between coaches and the team's success in winning World Cups. Instead, he believes that the success of Indian cricket hinges on the system's overall functioning.

Reflecting on India's cricket history, Manjrekar took to the social media platform 'X,' where he pointed out that the team won its first ODI World Cup in 1983 without a designated head coach. Subsequent triumphs in 2007 and 2011 under different coaches also reinforce his point. 

As Gambhir sets his sights on preparing a team capable of challenging top sides at the ICC Champions Trophy (2025), ICC World Test Championship final (2025), and the 2027 ODI World Cup, Manjrekar urges a shift in focus towards the players rather than the coach.

"No coach, Lalchand Rajput, Gary Kirsten & Dravid. Coaches when India won WCs in 1983, 2007, 2011 & 2023. It's really about Indian cricket, not who the coach is. Time we stop thinking there is a direct correlation," Manjrekar posted.

Under Rahul Dravid's mentorship, India recently lifted the T20 World Cup 2024 title in Barbados, ending an 11-year-long ICC title drought. 

India also reached the finals of the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup against Australia last year but fell short of victory.

Gambhir's coaching debut will commence in Sri Lanka, where Suryakumar Yadav-led India will face the hosts in the first T20I of the three-match series in Pallekele later today.