Harbhajan Singh defends Gautam Gambhir in PTI podcast, says critics 'can't digest the truth'
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh defended India head coach Gautam Gambhir in a podcast interview with PTI on 2026-08-13, saying critics mistake Gambhir's bluntness for arrogance and may simply be unwilling to hear uncomfortable facts. Harbhajan rejected the negativity directed at Gambhir and argued the coach speaks plainly out of commitment to winning.
Harbhajan said the Gambhir he knows is straightforward, passionate and fiercely committed to winning, and that those qualities have followed him from his playing days into his coaching career. Since taking charge of the Indian team, Gambhir has rarely shied away from strong opinions on selection, performances and the expectations placed on his players, Harbhajan said. He accused some observers of focusing on tone rather than message and criticised the habit of blaming coaches when results go wrong.
On Gambhir’s character, Harbhajan stated: "Bohot badhiya banda hai woh (Gautam is a top guy). He is very straightforward. For many people, Gautam might say bitter things but what he speaks is the bitter truth. Now, many people can't digest the truth." He framed those comments as coming from someone who has witnessed Gambhir's approach closely.
Addressing perceptions of Gambhir’s delivery, Harbhajan added: "Perhaps the tone of his comments makes people feel that he is a slightly difficult person." He warned that the tone can sometimes overshadow the content of Gambhir’s remarks rather than the substance.
Harbhajan noted the criticism of Gambhir has increased following a difficult run in Test cricket despite success in limited-overs formats, saying Gambhir's tenure has produced "three major white-ball titles" while India suffered crushing defeats in Australia and New Zealand and were then swept 3-0 at home by South Africa. He questioned why the coach has become an easy target, asking: "Why is Gautam getting so much flak? I have never understood why when a team doesn't do well, people always tend to blame the coach."
Recalling Gambhir's early days in the Indian dressing room, Harbhajan said Gambhir initially socialised with a small group of teammates and listed Virender Sehwag, Amit Mishra and Munaf Patel among those close to him. He urged against superficial judgment: "Don't judge a book by its cover. He is a brilliant guy. He has got a good sense of how the game should be played."
On coaching philosophy, Harbhajan insisted Gambhir prioritises attacking intent, quoting him directly: "I know one thing for sure. Now that he is the coach, he will want his team to imbibe just one philosophy and that is 'Play To Win'." He added Gambhir "is someone who will not mind a defeat if the intent is to win a match. If a team goes for a draw, probably he won't take it."
Gambhir's results will ultimately determine how his tenure is judged, particularly with India's Test fortunes needing a significant turnaround, Harbhajan said, while also suggesting the coach's public persona does not tell the whole story. For someone who shared the dressing room with Gambhir, Harbhajan concluded, "the sharp edges may be real, but so is the passion behind them."