Gautam Gambhir is often labelled as a “strict, hard taskmaster” in the Indian dressing room — but how much of that is actually true?
When you look at the current Indian team, the atmosphere tells a completely different story. Youngsters and seniors are constantly seen laughing, bonding, and enjoying their cricket together. The vibe inside the camp looks stronger than ever.
And this isn’t accidental.
Former India cricketer and selector Venkatpathy Raju, on the Long Innings Podcast, explains how team culture has evolved. In the 90s, Indian cricket was built more around individual performances. But everything shifted when leaders like Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli took charge. Unity grew. Roles became clearer. The dressing-room mentality transformed.
The results were visible on foreign tours, major tournaments and iconic moments that defined a new era of Indian cricket.
Raju also shares unheard stories about how Dhoni became captain, and how Rohit Sharma entered the Indian team back in 2007 — decisions that shaped modern Indian cricket.
If you want to understand what truly happens inside the Indian dressing room and how team culture has changed across generations, Episode 4 of The Long Innings Podcast on Hook Online is a must-watch.
