After a meeting on Wednesday, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor hailed India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir as ‘The man with the toughest job after PM’, who then thanked the famous author for his kind words about the team boss role, which is viewed by many as a thankless job. Tharoor shared words of kindness for Gambhir, recognizing his difficult position, after the meeting in Nagpur before the first T20I match of the five-match series against New Zealand at the New VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Wednesday.
Gambhir, in response to the post on X, wrote, “Thanks a lot, Dr. @ShashiTharoor! The time when the dust settles, truth & logic about a coach’s supposedly “unlimited authority” will become clear. Till then, I’m rather amused at being up against my own who are the very best!”
On X, Tharoor accompanied a photo of their meeting with a description of Gambhir as having been given one of the toughest tasks in the country, drawing attention to the very close monitoring that goes with being the captain of Indian cricket. He further referred to Gambhir as an old friend.
“I had a very enjoyable and straightforward conversation with my old friend Gautam Gambhir in Nagpur, the man with the hardest job in India after the PM’s!” Tharoor posted.
The senior politician admitted to the constant strain endured by the former Indian batsman, observing that Gambhir is subjected to unceasing public evaluation every day.
Tharoor spoke and said, “He is being second-guessed by millions daily but stays calm and walks on undaunted,” indicating that he was praising the very tennis player’s calmness under pressure.
Tharoor also applauded Gambhir’s way of leading saying it was quietly determined and effective, and expressed his good wishes as the Indian team starts a very important period in the white-ball calendar. “Let me give you a mention for your quiet determination and capable leadership. Here’s wishing you all good luck, starting now,” were his exact words.
In fact, the five-match T20I series against New Zealand will be very important for Team India as it prepares for the T20 World Cup 2026 that will be held from February 7, 2026. The first T20 match of the series between India and New Zealand was played on Wednesday, where India emerged victorious by 48 runs.