Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday praised Indian men’s cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir after meeting him in Nagpur ahead of the opening T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand at the New VCA Stadium in Jamtha. Taking to social media, Tharoor shared his admiration for Gambhir’s composure and leadership in a high-pressure role.

“In Nagpur, I enjoyed a good and frank discussion with my old friend Gautam Gambhir, the man with the hardest job in India after the PM’s!” Tharoor wrote.

He also highlighted Gambhir’s calmness despite constant public scrutiny, noting, “He is being second-guessed by millions daily but stays calm and walks on undaunted.” Tharoor further applauded Gambhir’s quiet determination and leadership by example, wishing him success as India enters a crucial phase of its white-ball calendar. “A word of appreciation for his quiet determination and able leadership. Wishing him all success, starting today,” he added.

The T20I series against New Zealand serves as a key build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7. As defending champions, India will be aiming for back-to-back titles, while New Zealand, fresh from an ODI series win in India, will look to carry that momentum into the shortest format, setting the stage for a closely contested series. (With inputs from Agencies)