Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane has advised Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir to stay away from social media and block out external noise as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 approaches.
Rahane’s comments come in the wake of Gambhir’s recent social media post, where the head coach indirectly responded to remarks questioning the extent of his authority—triggering widespread online debate. Rahane believes such distractions are unnecessary and that Gambhir’s focus should remain firmly on team preparation.
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Speaking on Cricbuzz, Rahane stressed that coaching the Indian cricket team is a responsibility that demands complete attention.
“My only response to this is that GG should probably stay away from social media. He shouldn’t think too much about what people are saying about him. He played his cricket brilliantly and now he’s coaching Team India, which is a very responsible job,” Rahane said.
The Mumbai batter further underlined that with the T20 World Cup—co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, just weeks away, Gambhir must prioritise the bigger picture.
“He should stay away from social media and focus on the team. That’s my personal opinion. Let’s focus on the main thing and avoid distractions till the World Cup is over,” he added.
Rahane also weighed in on Bangladesh’s decision to pull out of playing their T20 World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns. Expressing surprise, he dismissed the claims and backed India’s ability to host safely.
“I am really surprised by these security concerns. India is one of the safest places to play cricket. The security protocols, hospitality and police force here are very proactive,” Rahane said.
With the ICC confirming that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the tournament starting February 7, Rahane termed the decision a missed opportunity for the Bangla Tigers.
