At a recent book launch event for "I Have the Streets: A Kutti Cricket Story," veteran Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin showed tremendous appreciation for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Gautam Gambhir. Ashwin praised Gambhir's tremendous drive and fighting attitude, which he believes make him an outstanding candidate for the position of India's head coach. 

Ashwin reflected on his early days in international cricket, particularly his exchanges with Gambhir during his debut Test series against New Zealand in 2012. He praised Gambhir as having an endless dedication to victory and a positive attitude towards the game.

“I was playing my first full series. I only carried drinks during the first two years before the World Cup in 2011. Gautam gave me a lot of confidence at the beginning of my career. I was not used to someone beyond my state (Tamil Nadu) giving me that sort of confidence,” said Ashwin.

Ashwin mentioned that Gambhir, a former Indian opener, is often misunderstood because his direct demeanour. Ashwin believes Gambhir's straightforward manner hides a deep understanding of cricket and strong leadership skills.

"Gautam Gambhir is a very misunderstood person. It's all about perception. He is a fighter. The biggest issue with many of us is that we give hero status to someone in our mind and forget about everyone else. This is a sport, not a movie narrative. There are no heroes and villains. Gambhir is a competitor. His desire and hunger to win is unbelievable. I have massive respect for him,"