India, Jan. 10 -- Gautam Gambhir and Brendon McCullum. Both terrific opening batters in their prime, both all-format head coaches currently in international cricket. Two pods in a pea, right?

Wrong. Gambhir was feisty and combative as a batter, determined to prove a point more often than not. McCullum was free-spirited, his enjoyment of the art of batting manifesting itself in all-round aggression. Actually, the two could be peas in a pod - they have extended the same respective batting philosophies to their coaching careers, too.

Gambhir has been in charge of the Indian team for a year and a half now. McCullum, from New Zealand, was appointed the head coach of the England Test team in May 2022 and assumed command of the white-ball side...