India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has already set his sights on the upcoming T20 World Cup, revealing a determined mindset and a clear approach as India prepares
for the global challenge. After wrapping up the five-match T20I series against Australia on a high, it’s now time for Team India to shift their focus to red-ball cricket.
With the first Test against South Africa scheduled for November 14, Shubman Gill and his squad are gearing up for a fresh set of challenges. Gambhir’s journey as head coach has not been without hurdles, as he has faced strong criticism over his team selections and strategies. However, the former cricketer has chosen not to dwell on outside opinions. The scrutiny intensified after India’s ODI series loss to Australia, but Gambhir remained firm in his beliefs.
In the recently concluded five-match T20I series against Australia, India emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, marking a positive phase under Gambhir’s leadership. His presence has brought a noticeable change in the dressing room environment, creating a sense of intensity and purpose among the players. Gambhir reflected on the evolving team culture and his expectations going forward.
“It has been a very transparent dressing room, it has been a very honest dressing room, and that is how we want this dressing room to be," said Gambhir in the BCCI video.
"I've always been a believer that it's not about the individual performances. I can be very happy with the individual performances, and I will always remain happy with individual performances. But ultimately it's the loss of one-day series, that's the bottom line and I can never celebrate a series loss as a coach," he said.
"As a player I can appreciate individuals, but as a coach I think it is my moral responsibility that we as a nation and we as individuals should never, never celebrate a series loss. Ultimately we are representing the country, yes T20 series was different, we won the series, a lot of positives, but a lot of learning as well," Gambhir added.
The New Delhi-born admitted that the Indian team still needs polishing and refinement in several areas. He emphasized that the road to a perfect T20 World Cup campaign is a long one, demanding consistent effort, hard work, and focus from every player. With three months remaining before the tournament, Gambhir’s goal is to ensure that the squad continues to develop the right balance.
"I think we still aren’t where we want to be in the T20 World Cup. Hopefully, guys know the importance of being fit. We still have three months to be where we want to be,” Gambhir said.
For now, India is set to shift gears to red-ball cricket as they prepare to face South Africa in a Test series starting November 14. After a successful home series win against the West Indies, Team India will look to carry forward their momentum and extend their dominance in Test cricket.
