Gautam Gambhir has established himself as a fiercely competitive cricketer throughout his career, a trait that defined his approach on the field. However, away from the ground, the current Indian head coach has maintained genuine friendships with teammates, setting aside any competitive intensity that may have surfaced during matches. Former India spinner Amit Mishra, who shared dressing rooms with Gambhir across domestic cricket, international fixtures and Indian Premier League franchises, recently offered insight into the character of the man now leading the Indian team.
Mishra discussed his long-standing bond with Gambhir during an appearance on a podcast with former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra. The leg-spinner highlighted how Gambhir's approach to personal relationships stood out, particularly his refusal to display his financial success despite the significant gap in their material circumstances during their playing years.
"One thing is very good about Gautam. He has remained my friend because he has never shown off that he is well to do," Mishra said in an interview with Aakash Chopra.
Mishra provided a concrete example that illustrated Gambhir's grounded nature. During their playing days, Mishra owned an Alto as his first vehicle, while Gambhir drove premium cars including BMWs and Mercedes. Despite this disparity, Gambhir never hesitated to travel in Mishra's modest Alto whenever the situation required it, never once making his friend feel inferior about the difference in their circumstances.
"He has sat with me in an Alto, which was my first car. A guy who used to drive around in BMWs and Mercedes during that era still did not mind asking me to pick him up in my car. He never showed off to me or anyone else, and he was a very self-respecting person," Mishra added.
What did Mishra reveal about Gambhir's on-field intensity?
Mishra, who represented India across 22 Tests, 36 ODIs and 10 T20Is, also shared an anecdote that demonstrated how Gambhir separated his on-field aggression from his personal bonds. During a domestic match between Delhi and Haryana, Gambhir and Mishra engaged in a heated exchange on the field, with words exchanged in the intensity of the moment. By the end of that same day's play, however, Gambhir reached out to Mishra and invited him for cold coffee, demonstrating his ability to move past competitive friction.
"He would fight on the ground, but if you were his friend, he would set that aside and come back to you as well," Mishra stated.
While Gambhir represented Delhi and Mishra played for Haryana in domestic cricket, their paths converged in zonal competitions and later in the IPL. Both cricketers shared dressing rooms at Delhi Daredevils during the league's formative seasons and later at Lucknow Super Giants, where they worked together in subsequent phases of their careers. Mishra was recently appointed spin bowling coach of Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2027 IPL season, continuing his involvement in Indian cricket.
