Kirsten's Big Verdict On Gambhir's Anti-Superstar Stand Amid T20 WC Win

Gautam Gambhir is a straight-talker. That is one aspect of the T20 World Cup-winning star - first as a player and now as a coach - that none can deny. And yet again, after India's third T20 World Cup win, Gambhir was unabashed about what he wanted from the side. Gambhir spoke about being "misunderstood" as a player and coach, saying that if he is to be made a "villain" for advocating that the team is above the individual, he is okay with the tag, and that "one day, his honesty will defend him."

In an interview with ANI, Gambhir said that while "the media wants to create superstars, his job is to create a super team." "That is a simple difference and that difference will always remain. The media wants to create superstars, but my job as a head coach is to create a super team. And that is the only way I look at my profession because my job is to be absolutely fair, even, and treat everyone exactly equally, because those 15 people in that dressing room are absolutely equal to me," he said.

"I do not look at the amount of runs they have scored. I do not look at the amount of social media following they have. I do not look at what TRP they bring to the people or to the broadcaster. I only look at what they bring to the team and what they bring to the country. And that is why I feel that my job is to create a super team. And hopefully, till I finish my tenure, I will be able to create a super team," Gambhir said.

Gary Kirsten, India's 2011 World Cup-winning coach, has fully supported Gambhir's stand.

"I think it [superstar culture] has changed significantly in India over the last 15-odd years and I think he [Gambhir] is absolutely spot on," Kirsten said on Wisden Cricket's The Scoop on YouTube.

"I think that India was driven largely around that superstardom status of each individual and there was a massive commercial entity to that as well.

"But I think the IPL has definitely brought in a different dynamic there and I couldn't agree with you more. There are just so many good Indian players around now. I mean, you could literally pick three teams. When I was with the Namibians [as a consultant for the T20 World Cup], we were down at the Centre of Excellence in Bangalore, and it's the most impressive cricket facility I've ever seen anywhere."

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