India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir wants his players to adapt to the given situation, learn quickly and deliver on the big stage, rather than go gung ho at a particular style of play. As Rohit Sharma’s team gears up the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, Gambhir’s Test era, as a coach, begins.
So far, Gambhir has been part of the T20 team set ups in the IPL as a mentor and thus the India’s head coach role will bring a different challenge for the former Indian opener, who loves embracing them with open arms.
India will play 10 Test matches in the next four months and they will have a chance to cement their place in the World Test Championship final for the third time on the bounce.
“Look, I’ve always been a believer that the best style is the style that wins,” Gambhir began. “We want to be a team that adapts and that learns quickly, rather than adopting one style. Because if you start adopting one style, then there is no growth. We want guys to be playing the situation, the conditions, and then keep growing every day. And that is all that matters. You know, all this, giving a name to a certain style and playing only one way, see, ultimately sport is all about results. And the best, as I just mentioned, the best style is the style that wins,” Gambhir said in the pre-match press conference.
Gambhir hinted that Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan might have to wait for their chances despite performing well against England earlier in the year, with Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul returning to the Test squad.
“I feel Jurel is a quality player and he has done phenomenally well in the last season, played some really crucial knocks under pressure against England. But again, when Rishabh is coming in, obviously he’s done really well across most of the conditions. So sometimes people will have to wait. And someone like Sarfaraz (Khan), yes, he’s also done really well, but sometimes you just have to wait for the opportunity and keep working hard, keep doing the right things. That is what bench strength is all about,” Gambhir said.
The opening Test match between India and Bangladesh will be played at the Chepauk Stadium, Chennai from September 19.
