India national cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir temporarily became the mentor of the West Indies national cricket team following the conclusion of the two-match Test series between the teams.
West Indies’ India tour 2025 recently ended with a 2-0 whitewash of the visiting team as they lost the first match of the series by an innings and 140 runs and the second Test by 7 wickets.
I just wanted him to come and share some of his experiences – Darren Sammy
Shubman Gill’s first home series as Test captain was a very boring one as West Indies did not face any major challenge. Things were mostly one-sided in both the Test matches and the difference between the skill sets of both the teams was clearly visible.
The West Indies players were no match for India’s superstars, and the only notable thing the Roston Chase-led side did on the tour was struggle in the second innings of the Delhi Test after India imposed the follow-on.
Team West Indies was praised for showing good fight at the Arun Jaitley Stadium and taking the Test match to the fifth day, and Roston Chase said they would use it as a stepping stone for the revival of cricket in the Caribbean.
Meanwhile, West Indies head coach Darren Sammy decided to invite India head coach Gautam Gambhir to the dressing room to give a motivational speech and share his experience with the players.
Introducing Gambhir in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sammy said, “Gautam is here, coaching an elite team. I just wanted him to come and share some of his experiences, some of the things that he has been able to do, which leads to that type of success. Sometimes you just need to hear another voice.” “So, Gautam, I commend you for doing this. The destination is yours,” he said.
It’s always a privilege to play against West Indies, whether at home or away – Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir started his speech by saying that it is a privilege for India to play against West Indies because of the heritage of the team. He said that West Indies really have a purpose for playing cricket and the current group of cricketers have the potential to inspire the next generation.
Gautam Gambhir said, “It’s always a privilege to play against the West Indies, whether it’s at home or away. I think the most important thing for me that I was telling Darren is the way you guys carry yourselves on and off the field. I think it’s a great learning experience, the way you guys carry yourselves off the field. Your humility, your humbleness is something that my team and many around the world look forward to.” Teams have to learn.”
He said, “There are very few teams that have someone like the West Indies who has a purpose for playing this game. And when you have a purpose, the purpose is always more important than love. And when I look at you, I think you can inspire the next generation of West Indies. I think the way you played in the second innings of this Test match, that’s probably the template that can take West Indies cricket forward.”
West Indies cricket does not need world cricket – Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir urged West Indies players to start appreciating small contributions and ended his speech with an inspiring line that “West Indies cricket does not need world cricket. World cricket needs West Indian cricket.”
Gautam Gambhir said, “In a team game, I think the most important thing is that every contribution should be appreciated. Sometimes it is very easy to talk about 100s, 5ers. Small contributions make the team. Not big contributions.”
He said, “And finally, friends, I want to say one thing, and that is something I have always believed in. You may think I am just saying it casually, but it comes straight from the heart. West Indies cricket does not need world cricket. World cricket needs West Indies cricket.”
Mentoring Masterclass Ft. @GautamGambhir
West Indies head coach Darren Sammy invited the India head coach to talk to the boys after the Test series and what came out was a pure masterclass! -by @maulinparikh
See | #TeamIndia , #INDvWI , @IDFCFIRSTBANK
– BCCI (@BCCI) 14 October 2025
Also read: Ravichandran Ashwin tells Shubman Gill about captaincy after India’s Test series win against West Indies
