India head coach Gautam Gambhir praised the team’s collective effort after India won the five-match T20I series against New Zealand 3-2, despite losing the final match by seven wickets at Seddon Park on Sunday (Nov 1). Taking to X, Gambhir shared a message celebrating the team’s unity and wrote, “Built as a Team. Won as a Team. Always for India.”&nbsp;India had taken an unassailable 3-0 lead after winning the first three matches of the series. However, New Zealand bounced back by winning the last two T20Is to end the series 3-2.&nbsp;In the fifth and final match, New Zealand chased down India’s target of 192 in just 17.4 overs to secure a seven-wicket win.&nbsp;Tim Seifert led the hosts’ chase with an impressive 93 off 50 balls, hitting 11 fours and five sixes. Glenn Phillips also played a key role, remaining unbeaten on 65 off 38 deliveries, with eight fours and three sixes.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-become-first-team-to-smash-400-t20i-sixes-in-a-calendar-year-1793532828016">India become first team to smash 400 T20I sixes in a calendar year</a>&nbsp;The pair added 86 runs for the third wicket to put New Zealand in a strong position. Phillips also scored his fourth half-century of the series, joining Mohammad Rizwan and S Ravichandran among batters who have registered four or more 50-plus scores in a bilateral T20I series.&nbsp;Earlier, India recovered from a poor start at 19/2 thanks to a 93-run partnership between Ishan Kishan and captain Shreyas Iyer. Kishan scored 61 off 32 balls, including five fours and five sixes, while Iyer made 50 off 23 deliveries, hitting three fours and four sixes.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Built as a Team. Won as a Team. Always for India 🇮🇳 https://t.co/uVnCXzz6jg&mdash; Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) <a href="https://x.com/GautamGambhir/status/2116867993653408072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/my-job-is-not-to-make-everyone-happy-gambhir-opens-up-on-india-s-team-selection-1793522402578">'My job is not to make everyone...': Gambhir opens up on India's team selection</a>&nbsp;Naman Dhir added 33 off 23 balls, while Nitish Kumar Reddy scored 22 off 17 deliveries to help India post 191/8 in 20 overs.&nbsp;Adam Milne was New Zealand’s best bowler, taking four wickets for 19 runs. Blair Tickner and Nathan Smith also picked up wickets.&nbsp;Despite India’s competitive total, Seifert and Phillips guided New Zealand to victory with 14 balls remaining.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir celebrated the team's 3-2 T20I series win over New Zealand on X, despite suffering a seven-wicket defeat in the final match at Seddon Park.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir praised the team’s collective effort after India won the five-match T20I series against New Zealand 3-2, despite losing the final match by seven wickets at Seddon Park on Sunday (Nov 1). Taking to X, Gambhir shared a message celebrating the team’s unity and wrote, “Built as a Team. Won as a Team. Always for India.” India had taken an unassailable 3-0 lead after winning the first three matches of the series. However, New Zealand bounced back by winning the last two T20Is to end the series 3-2. In the fifth and final match, New Zealand chased down India’s target of 192 in just 17.4 overs to secure a seven-wicket win. Tim Seifert led the hosts’ chase with an impressive 93 off 50 balls, hitting 11 fours and five sixes. Glenn Phillips also played a key role, remaining unbeaten on 65 off 38 deliveries, with eight fours and three sixes. Also Read - India become first team to smash 400 T20I sixes in a calendar year The pair added 86 runs for the third wicket to put New Zealand in a strong position. Phillips also scored his fourth half-century of the series, joining Mohammad Rizwan and S Ravichandran among batters who have registered four or more 50-plus scores in a bilateral T20I series. Earlier, India recovered from a poor start at 19/2 thanks to a 93-run partnership between Ishan Kishan and captain Shreyas Iyer. Kishan scored 61 off 32 balls, including five fours and five sixes, while Iyer made 50 off 23 deliveries, hitting three fours and four sixes.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir celebrated the team's 3-2 T20I series win over New Zealand on X, despite suffering a seven-wicket defeat in the final match at Seddon Park.

'Built as a team, won as a team': India head coach reacts to T20I series win

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has responded to criticism over the lack of rotation in the team, which has left young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the bench, even in matches with no impact on the series result. Gambhir said his job was not to ‘make everyone happy’ by taking decisions that would please people on social media. He added that players who have performed ‘phenomenally well’ over a long period deserve more opportunities.&nbsp;Sooryavanshi has attracted a lot of attention following his record-breaking IPL 2026 season, a feat that no current member of the Indian team has achieved. However, he has found it difficult to secure a regular place in the side.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ishan-kishan-sets-new-record-for-most-t20i-runs-by-an-indian-in-a-year-1793520525961">Ishan Kishan sets new record for most T20I runs by an Indian in a year</a>&nbsp;He has featured in three T20Is in England when Sanju Samson was dropped due to poor form, three matches in Zimbabwe when Samson was rested and a few games at the Asian Games under head coach VVS Laxman, who had a different team combination.&nbsp;“First of all my job is not to make everyone happy,” Gambhir told Sky Sports when asked about managing a talented squad.&nbsp;&nbsp;“My job is to take the right decisions, not the popular decisions. And that is what I’m there for. I think sometimes, in today’s day and age, with so much social media and all that chatter, what happens on the outside, it is very easy to take the popular decision. But for me, I think the important thing is to take the right decision and make sure that there is a lot of security inside the dressing room. Because, as you just mentioned, there’s a lot of talent. But again, I think guys have done phenomenally well over a longer period of time. Obviously, it deserves a longer rope,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/south-africa-dethrone-australia-claim-no-1-spot-in-test-rankings-1793519503384">South Africa dethrone Australia, claim no. 1 spot in Test rankings</a>&nbsp;Sooryavanshi got another opportunity in two T20Is against New Zealand when Ishan Kishan was injured, however, he was dropped for the fourth match after Kishan returned to the side. The decision raised questions as India had already secured the series with a 3-0 lead, making the match a dead rubber.&nbsp;Gambhir, however, made it clear that he does not believe in the concept of dead rubbers.&nbsp;“When you’re playing for your country, there is no complacency,” Gambhir said. “It’s an international game. Everyone knows how very few privileged people get the opportunity to represent the country. For me, I think every game is an opportunity to do something different, to learn something, to evolve. And that is exactly how we approach the game. I think there are no dead rubbers in my philosophy, in my ideology, and the same is in the dressing room as well.”

India head coach Gautam Gambhir said his priority is to make the right selection decisions rather than make everyone happy.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has responded to criticism over the lack of rotation in the team, which has left young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the bench, even in matches with no impact on the series result. Gambhir said his job was not to ‘make everyone happy’ by taking decisions that would please people on social media. He added that players who have performed ‘phenomenally well’ over a long period deserve more opportunities. Sooryavanshi has attracted a lot of attention following his record-breaking IPL 2026 season, a feat that no current member of the Indian team has achieved. However, he has found it difficult to secure a regular place in the side. Also Read - Ishan Kishan sets new record for most T20I runs by an Indian in a year He has featured in three T20Is in England when Sanju Samson was dropped due to poor form, three matches in Zimbabwe when Samson was rested and a few games at the Asian Games under head coach VVS Laxman, who had a different team combination. “First of all my job is not to make everyone happy,” Gambhir told Sky Sports when asked about managing a talented squad. “My job is to take the right decisions, not the popular decisions. And that is what I’m there for. I think sometimes, in today’s day and age, with so much social media and all that chatter, what happens on the outside, it is very easy to take the popular decision. But for me, I think the important thing is to take the right decision and make sure that there is a lot of security inside the dressing room. Because, as you just mentioned, there’s a lot of talent. But again, I think guys have done phenomenally well over a longer period of time. Obviously, it deserves a longer rope,” he said. Also Read - South Africa dethrone Australia, claim no. 1 spot in Test rankings Sooryavanshi got another opportunity in two T20Is against New Zealand when Ishan Kishan was injured, however, he was dropped for the fourth match after Kishan returned to the side. The decision raised questions as India had already secured the series with a 3-0 lead, making the match a dead rubber. Gambhir, however, made it clear that he does not believe in the concept of dead rubbers. “When you’re playing for your country, there is no complacency,” Gambhir said. “It’s an international game. Everyone knows how very few privileged people get the opportunity to represent the country. For me, I think every game is an opportunity to do something different, to learn something, to evolve. And that is exactly how we approach the game. I think there are no dead rubbers in my philosophy, in my ideology, and the same is in the dressing room as well.”

India head coach Gautam Gambhir said his priority is to make the right selection decisions rather than make everyone happy.

'My job is not to make everyone happy': Gambhir opens up on India's team selection

For the second time in less than a fortnight between India and the West Indies, a seemingly unchaseable total was gunned down with relative ease, with bowlers facing wrath on a batting-friendly track. On Sep 30, India chased 405 with eight wickets remaining in the Guwahati ODI, completing their highest successful run chase in 50-over cricket (and the second-highest overall). 10 days later, West Indies chased 250 against India during the Ranchi T20I, completing their highest successful T20I chase against and in India. Looking at such results, India head coach Gautam Gambhir raised alarm bells, calling for more even wickets to ensure a fair contest.&nbsp;Shai Hope starred for the visitors in the second T20I by scoring an unbeaten 102 as the West Indies won by six wickets to level the five-match series 1-1. While Mayank Yadav returned with 3/36, the remaining five bowlers, including Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, conceded at over 11 runs per over. Kuldeep and Axar were the worst hit, conceding 53 and 63 runs, respectively.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shreyas-iyer-blames-dew-india-vs-west-indies-ranchi-2nd-t20i-1791609457754">Shreyas Iyer blames dew for West Indies' record run chase in 2nd T20I in Ranchi</a>&nbsp;Speaking in favour of his bowlers, Gambhir said, "You don't want a good bat-and-ball competition? What you want to see, that's also what we want to see. We also want to see an even contest.&nbsp;"These bowlers are our bowlers, not someone else's bowlers. Their careers are at stake; they have worked hard to sit in this dressing room. If it's an even competition, we'll see a better game of cricket,” he said in a chat with the broadcasters after the match.&nbsp;Unlike captain Shreyas Iyer, who blamed dew for the second T20I loss, Gambhir urged his players to keep improving and find ways to deliver like world champions. He also credited Hope and the West Indies team with never allowing the Indian attack to settle or bring India back into the game.&nbsp;"You don't shrug off any defeat," Gambhir said. "If you want to keep improving, you don't want to put anything under the carpet."We are a world-champion team, so we want to keep improving. These are obviously tough conditions to bowl - we know flat wickets with the dew - obviously it's tough, but we need to figure out and find the way. Especially with the opposition having lost two wickets in the first over and then lost three wickets in the powerplay.&nbsp;"But again, credit to West Indies; the way Shai Hope and Sherfane batted, we know they are world-class batters, especially in the format. It was tough on us, but we're going to keep improving,” he added.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir called for balanced pitches after West Indies chased 250 in Ranchi, warning that flat tracks put bowlers' careers at stake.

For the second time in less than a fortnight between India and the West Indies, a seemingly unchaseable total was gunned down with relative ease, with bowlers facing wrath on a batting-friendly track. On Sep 30, India chased 405 with eight wickets remaining in the Guwahati ODI, completing their highest successful run chase in 50-over cricket (and the second-highest overall). 10 days later, West Indies chased 250 against India during the Ranchi T20I, completing their highest successful T20I chase against and in India. Looking at such results, India head coach Gautam Gambhir raised alarm bells, calling for more even wickets to ensure a fair contest. Shai Hope starred for the visitors in the second T20I by scoring an unbeaten 102 as the West Indies won by six wickets to level the five-match series 1-1. While Mayank Yadav returned with 3/36, the remaining five bowlers, including Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, conceded at over 11 runs per over. Kuldeep and Axar were the worst hit, conceding 53 and 63 runs, respectively. Also read| Shreyas Iyer blames dew for West Indies' record run chase in 2nd T20I in Ranchi Speaking in favour of his bowlers, Gambhir said, "You don't want a good bat-and-ball competition? What you want to see, that's also what we want to see. We also want to see an even contest. "These bowlers are our bowlers, not someone else's bowlers. Their careers are at stake; they have worked hard to sit in this dressing room. If it's an even competition, we'll see a better game of cricket,” he said in a chat with the broadcasters after the match. Unlike captain Shreyas Iyer, who blamed dew for the second T20I loss, Gambhir urged his players to keep improving and find ways to deliver like world champions. He also credited Hope and the West Indies team with never allowing the Indian attack to settle or bring India back into the game. "You don't shrug off any defeat," Gambhir said. "If you want to keep improving, you don't want to put anything under the carpet. "We are a world-champion team, so we want to keep improving. These are obviously tough conditions to bowl - we know flat wickets with the dew - obviously it's tough, but we need to figure out and find the way. Especially with the opposition having lost two wickets in the first over and then lost three wickets in the powerplay. "But again, credit to West Indies; the way Shai Hope and Sherfane batted, we know they are world-class batters, especially in the format. It was tough on us, but we're going to keep improving,” he added.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir called for balanced pitches after West Indies chased 250 in Ranchi, warning that flat tracks put bowlers' careers at stake.

‘Their careers are at stake’: Gambhir pleads for even pitches after Ranchi 250 chase

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has penned a heartfelt note for the departing chief selector Ajit Agarkar. The former Indian quick decided against renewing his contract as the chairman of the men’s selection committee, with Pragyan Ojha temporarily taking up the spot. The BCCI has also invited applications for the vacant seat on the selection committee.&nbsp;Agarkar was appointed chief selector in July 2023. He chaired team selections for several ICC tournaments, including the 2023 ODI World Cup, 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cups, the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, and two Asia Cup campaigns, of which India won four multi-team tournaments. The Men in Blue were crowned 2025 Champions Trophy winners in Dubai and clinched both T20 World Cups in the Americas (2024) and the subcontinent (2026). India also won two Asia Cup titles in 2023 and 2025.&nbsp;Gambhir, who replaced the legendary Rahul Dravid as Team India’s head coach in mid-2024, worked closely with Agarkar to help shape India’s future across formats. While India tasted enormous success during this period, winning several series and tournaments, they also endured challenging times, including suffering two series whitewashes at home, all under Agarkar and Gambhir’s tutelage.&nbsp;Taking to his X handle, Gambhir posted a message for his former India teammate, saying, “Dear Ajit Bhai, an absolute honour to work with you. Those 3 ICC trophies are testimony of your conviction: Team first &amp; Team ahead, always..I must say, History will be kinder to you. Thank you for everything. My heartfelt wishes for your future endeavours!!”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Dear Ajit Bhai, an absolute honour to work with you. Those 3 ICC trophies are testimony of your conviction: Team first &amp;amp; Team ahead, always.. I must say, History will be kinder to you. Thank you for everything. My heartfelt wishes for your future endeavours !! https://t.co/gYQN0fea8X&mdash; Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) <a href="https://x.com/GautamGambhir/status/2107710079944605986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<h3>Controversies and low points of Agarkar’s tenure</h3>India’s ODI cricket peaked during the home World Cup in 2023, only for Australia to beat India in the final and break a billion hearts. Mohammed Shami, who starred for the Men in Blue in that tournament, picking up 23 wickets in seven matches, was amongst the top names who were phased out of white-ball squads following the Champions Trophy success. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bhuvneshwar-kumar-recalled-india-t20i-squad-new-zealand-jurel-captain-india-a-1791303593439">returned to the Indian squad for the forthcoming New Zealand T20Is after nearly four years</a> with Ojha leading the selection panel, also never got his turn during Agarkar’s spell as the chief selector.&nbsp;Besides, uncertainty over the futures of two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and reports of Rohit quitting ODI cricket following the Lord’s ODI in July this year, turned things from bad to worse between the board, selection committee, the two players and the team management, leading to Agarkar’s exit.&nbsp;Moreover, several clean sweeps, including India's shocking 2-0 T20I series loss in Ireland and a 4-0 bashing at the hands of England on the previous UK tour, did not help the cause.

Gautam Gambhir penned a heartfelt note for outgoing chief selector Ajit Agarkar, praising his 'team first' mentality following his decision to step down as BCCI selection committee chairman.

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has penned a heartfelt note for the departing chief selector Ajit Agarkar. The former Indian quick decided against renewing his contract as the chairman of the men’s selection committee, with Pragyan Ojha temporarily taking up the spot. The BCCI has also invited applications for the vacant seat on the selection committee. Agarkar was appointed chief selector in July 2023. He chaired team selections for several ICC tournaments, including the 2023 ODI World Cup, 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cups, the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, and two Asia Cup campaigns, of which India won four multi-team tournaments. The Men in Blue were crowned 2025 Champions Trophy winners in Dubai and clinched both T20 World Cups in the Americas (2024) and the subcontinent (2026). India also won two Asia Cup titles in 2023 and 2025. Gambhir, who replaced the legendary Rahul Dravid as Team India’s head coach in mid-2024, worked closely with Agarkar to help shape India’s future across formats. While India tasted enormous success during this period, winning several series and tournaments, they also endured challenging times, including suffering two series whitewashes at home, all under Agarkar and Gambhir’s tutelage. Taking to his X handle, Gambhir posted a message for his former India teammate, saying, “Dear Ajit Bhai, an absolute honour to work with you. Those 3 ICC trophies are testimony of your conviction: Team first & Team ahead, always..I must say, History will be kinder to you. Thank you for everything. My heartfelt wishes for your future endeavours!!”

Gautam Gambhir penned a heartfelt note for outgoing chief selector Ajit Agarkar, praising his 'team first' mentality following his decision to step down as BCCI selection committee chairman.

‘Team first and team ahead’: India coach Gambhir pens heartfelt wish for chief selector Ajit Agarkar

India's record chase of 406 against the West Indies in the second ODI of the three-match series on Wednesday (Sep 30) has not amused head coach Gautam Gambhir at all. India surpassed the 400+ target with 39 balls and eight wickets to spare. This is also only the second time in the history of ODI cricket that a 400+ total has been chased successfully, with the only other instance being South Africa chasing down 434 against Australia. Gambhir, while acknowledging the batting prowess of both teams, said that the bowlers need to have something to work with on the pitch.<h2>Gambhir not amused with India's record chase</h2>Skipper Shubman Gill, who scored 223 not out, added 255 runs for the opening wicket with Rohit Sharma (101) in 26.2 overs to take the game away from the West Indies. Speaking to the broadcaster after the match, Gambhir said: "Look, if I have to be absolutely honest, I feel I think there has to be a bit of more contest between bat and ball, because I think you talk about cricket - but this is not cricket, this is only batting."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shubman-gill-223-all-records-broken-ind-vs-wi-2nd-odi-1790794610718">Shubman Gill's 223 vs WI: Every record broken in India’s highest-ever ODI chase</a>"When you bowl on this kind of a wicket, it's not fair for the bowlers. So we've got to give something to the bowlers so there's at least something which the bowlers can work with," he added.<h2>What next for India?</h2>After the last ODI against the West Indies on Saturday (Oct 3), India's next 50-over assignment will be in New Zealand. After playing the Kiwis, India will also play against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at home in ODIs, as per the current schedule. In between, however, there's the IPL and an Australian tour of India for the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the start of next year. With the 2027 ODI World Cup nearly a year away, Gambhir acknowledged that there is less time to settle options."There is one year, but in that one year, three months will go into the IPL, three months will go into the India-Australia series," he said. "So after this series, we have barely 20 ODIs, and 20 ODIs aren't really that many ODIs, which includes three against Sri Lanka, three against Zimbabwe. I believe there isn't much time. So whatever we plan, whatever options we prepare, we will have to do it as quickly as possible."

Gautam Gambhir voiced frustration over bowler-unfriendly pitches after India’s record 406-run ODI chase against West Indies. With barely 20 ODIs left before World Cup 2027, he urged rapid team planning.

India's record chase of 406 against the West Indies in the second ODI of the three-match series on Wednesday (Sep 30) has not amused head coach Gautam Gambhir at all. India surpassed the 400+ target with 39 balls and eight wickets to spare. This is also only the second time in the history of ODI cricket that a 400+ total has been chased successfully, with the only other instance being South Africa chasing down 434 against Australia. Gambhir, while acknowledging the batting prowess of both teams, said that the bowlers need to have something to work with on the pitch. Gambhir not amused with India's record chase Skipper Shubman Gill, who scored 223 not out, added 255 runs for the opening wicket with Rohit Sharma (101) in 26.2 overs to take the game away from the West Indies. Speaking to the broadcaster after the match, Gambhir said: "Look, if I have to be absolutely honest, I feel I think there has to be a bit of more contest between bat and ball, because I think you talk about cricket - but this is not cricket, this is only batting." Also Read - Shubman Gill's 223 vs WI: Every record broken in India’s highest-ever ODI chase "When you bowl on this kind of a wicket, it's not fair for the bowlers. So we've got to give something to the bowlers so there's at least something which the bowlers can work with," he added. What next for India? After the last ODI against the West Indies on Saturday (Oct 3), India's next 50-over assignment will be in New Zealand. After playing the Kiwis, India will also play against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at home in ODIs, as per the current schedule. In between, however, there's the IPL and an Australian tour of India for the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the start of next year. With the 2027 ODI World Cup nearly a year away, Gambhir acknowledged that there is less time to settle options. "There is one year, but in that one year, three months will go into the IPL, three months will go into the India-Australia series," he said. "So after this series, we have barely 20 ODIs, and 20 ODIs aren't really that many ODIs, which includes three against Sri Lanka, three against Zimbabwe. I believe there isn't much time. So whatever we plan, whatever options we prepare, we will have to do it as quickly as possible."

Gautam Gambhir voiced frustration over bowler-unfriendly pitches after India’s record 406-run ODI chase against West Indies. With barely 20 ODIs left before World Cup 2027, he urged rapid team planning.

IND vs WI, 2nd ODI: Gambhir not amused with India's record chase, calls it 'not fair'

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has opened up about the emotional challenge of leaving Sanju Samson out of the playing XI during the T20I series in England, revealing that the decision kept him awake at night. Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament during India’s T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year, was dropped after the opening match of the five-game series in England in July. India lost the first T20I, after which teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was handed his international debut in Manchester.&nbsp;Gambhir admitted that the decision was particularly difficult because of Samson’s contribution to India’s World Cup-winning campaign. Speaking to JioStar ahead of India’s home season against the West Indies, he explained the thinking behind the selection call.&nbsp;“In two years of my journey, that was the only night I could not sleep and I told this to Sanju because I knew that it was probably the toughest decision in my coaching tenure in a T20 format because someone who was player of the tournament, and then you have to leave him out after three or four games."&nbsp;And the reason was probably Vaibhav was in that kind of form as well and we had to win the series.&nbsp;“Because ultimately you are there and when you are playing for India, or when you are coaching India, you want to win each and every series possible. I had a very, very honest conversation with him and I told him that that is one of the reasons why, because Vaibhav was in that kind of form, and we needed someone to score runs at the top, we needed that little bit of a platform at the top as well. And he was fine with it. And that’s a conversation which me and Sanju had, and he took it in good spirits,” said Gambhir.&nbsp;The decision was later reversed when India returned home for their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Samson replaced Sooryavanshi and responded with back-to-back fifties as India completed a 3-0 series sweep.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-hockey-india-women-strengthen-semifinal-hopes-with-3-1-win-over-japan-1790332244850">Asian Games, Hockey: India women strengthen semifinal hopes with 3-1 win over Japan</a>&nbsp;Gambhir also explained why strong recent form does not always guarantee a player a place in India’s playing XI.&nbsp;“I know, it is (tough). But then, I made him understand that I know you’re in good form, but sometimes with the players who have done well for a long time, you will have to wait for your opportunity."&nbsp;“There’s one more thing - social media or outside noise doesn’t decide the playing eleven. Playing eleven who, in that dressing room, or who the coach and captain feel can win us the match, or what is the best playing eleven, and who have done well for such a long time because if Vaibhav plays today, then it’s going to be a tough conversation between me and whoever we leave out, whether it’s Abhishek or Sanju." he added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ex-liverpool-forward-mohamed-salah-banned-from-driving-in-united-kingdom-for-six-months-1790323354898">Ex-Liverpool forward Salah banned from driving in United Kingdom for six months</a> &nbsp;Sooryavanshi’s emergence has added another challenge to India’s T20I selection plans. Although the teenager impressed on his international debut in Manchester, Gambhir stressed that India’s established combination cannot be changed simply because a young player is in good form.&nbsp;The India coach said continuity remains important given the team’s recent success. He also pointed to India’s quick turnaround between World Cup victories while urging the team not to overreact to a few poor performances. “For two years, imagine, you imagine we won the World Cup - which team in the history of sport has gone undefeated from one World Cup to the other and gone on to win the World Cup?&nbsp;“It didn’t take these guys 17 years to win the second World Cup. It took these guys only 17 months to win the third World Cup. Suddenly one bad series or three bad games here and there does not make them a bad player or does not make us a bad side. So it was very important for us to have that continuity," he concluded.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir said dropping in-form opener Sanju Samson was the toughest decision of his coaching career and left him unable to sleep.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has opened up about the emotional challenge of leaving Sanju Samson out of the playing XI during the T20I series in England, revealing that the decision kept him awake at night. Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament during India’s T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year, was dropped after the opening match of the five-game series in England in July. India lost the first T20I, after which teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was handed his international debut in Manchester. Gambhir admitted that the decision was particularly difficult because of Samson’s contribution to India’s World Cup-winning campaign. Speaking to JioStar ahead of India’s home season against the West Indies, he explained the thinking behind the selection call. “In two years of my journey, that was the only night I could not sleep and I told this to Sanju because I knew that it was probably the toughest decision in my coaching tenure in a T20 format because someone who was player of the tournament, and then you have to leave him out after three or four games." And the reason was probably Vaibhav was in that kind of form as well and we had to win the series. “Because ultimately you are there and when you are playing for India, or when you are coaching India, you want to win each and every series possible. I had a very, very honest conversation with him and I told him that that is one of the reasons why, because Vaibhav was in that kind of form, and we needed someone to score runs at the top, we needed that little bit of a platform at the top as well. And he was fine with it. And that’s a conversation which me and Sanju had, and he took it in good spirits,” said Gambhir. The decision was later reversed when India returned home for their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Samson replaced Sooryavanshi and responded with back-to-back fifties as India completed a 3-0 series sweep. Also Read - Asian Games, Hockey: India women strengthen semifinal hopes with 3-1 win over Japan Gambhir also explained why strong recent form does not always guarantee a player a place in India’s playing XI. “I know, it is (tough). But then, I made him understand that I know you’re in good form, but sometimes with the players who have done well for a long time, you will have to wait for your opportunity." “There’s one more thing - social media or outside noise doesn’t decide the playing eleven. Playing eleven who, in that dressing room, or who the coach and captain feel can win us the match, or what is the best playing eleven, and who have done well for such a long time because if Vaibhav plays today, then it’s going to be a tough conversation between me and whoever we leave out, whether it’s Abhishek or Sanju." he added. Also Read - Ex-Liverpool forward Salah banned from driving in United Kingdom for six months Sooryavanshi’s emergence has added another challenge to India’s T20I selection plans. Although the teenager impressed on his international debut in Manchester, Gambhir stressed that India’s established combination cannot be changed simply because a young player is in good form. The India coach said continuity remains important given the team’s recent success. He also pointed to India’s quick turnaround between World Cup victories while urging the team not to overreact to a few poor performances. “For two years, imagine, you imagine we won the World Cup - which team in the history of sport has gone undefeated from one World Cup to the other and gone on to win the World Cup? “It didn’t take these guys 17 years to win the second World Cup. It took these guys only 17 months to win the third World Cup. Suddenly one bad series or three bad games here and there does not make them a bad player or does not make us a bad side. So it was very important for us to have that continuity," he concluded.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir said dropping in-form opener Sanju Samson was the toughest decision of his coaching career and left him unable to sleep.

'I could not sleep': Gautam Gambhir reveals 'toughest decision' to pick Vaibhav Sooryavanshi over Sanju Samson

The Indian cricket team has a busy schedule ahead of them for the rest of the year, which begins with hosting the West Indies for a white-ball tour comprising three ODIs and five T20Is. The series begins with the first ODI scheduled for September 27. India will then travel to New Zealand for a full-fledged tour. India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who took over the role after Rahul Dravid stepped down post-T20 World Cup 2024, will be hoping to avenge India's 0-3 loss in the Test series at home against the Kiwis.Under Gambhir, India won two ICC titles - the Champions Trophy 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2026 - but also lost Test series against New Zealand and South Africa at home, as well as an ODI series in Sri Lanka and a T20I series in Ireland. Ahead of the home series against the West Indies, Gambhir, in conversation with JioStar, spoke about his coaching tenure so far and acknowledged having ups and downs.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-jpn-t20i-how-an-overturned-wide-became-point-of-difference-between-india-s-win-and-a-tie-1790133933540">IND vs JPN T20I: How an overturned wide became point of difference</a>"I think I've had my own share of ups and downs; I think I've had my own failures and successes. But again, I've always believed that when you take up that kind of responsibility, there will always be ups and downs. So, whether it was Test cricket, whether it was one-day cricket, or T20 cricket, yes, I've had success, which obviously I will always cherish, but I've had my share of failures as well—which I, again, accept with both hands," Gambhir said about his coaching stint.<h2>Gambhir shares the path going forward</h2>The head coach also spoke about the learnings so far from his coaching tenure, especially for red-ball cricket, which includes the New Zealand tour and then hosting Australia for the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting in January next year."I think the best part that has happened is obviously we've played reasonably good Test cricket since England. I'm not saying that we're still not a work in progress, because with the amount of transition that has happened in Test cricket—especially with the likes of Rohit, Virat, and Ashwin leaving, obviously it is very difficult to replace those kinds of players. Because of the amount of talent, experience, and what those guys have done for Indian cricket in red-ball cricket, it's not going to be easy for anyone to replace them, so it will take time," Gambhir noted."I believe that since England, with Shubman taking over, we are heading in the right direction, but we are still a work in progress. I'm sure if we keep backing the right players, we'll reach there and probably Indian cricket will start dominating red-ball cricket for a long, long period of time."If you see in red-ball cricket, look at the number of young guys that are in that red-ball squad, look at their age, and look at the amount of Test matches they've played. So, when you're bringing new guys in, you are obviously trying to make them feel how important Test cricket is, because I am a very big believer that a strong Test-cricketing nation is a strong cricketing nation. It's not the other way around. I've never believed that a strong T20-cricketing nation is a strong cricketing nation. So red-ball still remains our priority."&nbsp;<h2>Where to watch India vs West Indies ODI series live?</h2>&nbsp;India vs West Indies can be watched live from September 27 to October 3 at 2 PM &nbsp;on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.

Gautam Gambhir reflected on his coaching tenure - citing ICC title wins alongside series losses - as India prepares to host West Indies before touring New Zealand to avenge their 0-3 home Test defeat.

The Indian cricket team has a busy schedule ahead of them for the rest of the year, which begins with hosting the West Indies for a white-ball tour comprising three ODIs and five T20Is. The series begins with the first ODI scheduled for September 27. India will then travel to New Zealand for a full-fledged tour. India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who took over the role after Rahul Dravid stepped down post-T20 World Cup 2024, will be hoping to avenge India's 0-3 loss in the Test series at home against the Kiwis. Under Gambhir, India won two ICC titles - the Champions Trophy 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2026 - but also lost Test series against New Zealand and South Africa at home, as well as an ODI series in Sri Lanka and a T20I series in Ireland. Ahead of the home series against the West Indies, Gambhir, in conversation with JioStar, spoke about his coaching tenure so far and acknowledged having ups and downs. Also Read - IND vs JPN T20I: How an overturned wide became point of difference "I think I've had my own share of ups and downs; I think I've had my own failures and successes. But again, I've always believed that when you take up that kind of responsibility, there will always be ups and downs. So, whether it was Test cricket, whether it was one-day cricket, or T20 cricket, yes, I've had success, which obviously I will always cherish, but I've had my share of failures as well—which I, again, accept with both hands," Gambhir said about his coaching stint. Gambhir shares the path going forward The head coach also spoke about the learnings so far from his coaching tenure, especially for red-ball cricket, which includes the New Zealand tour and then hosting Australia for the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting in January next year. "I think the best part that has happened is obviously we've played reasonably good Test cricket since England. I'm not saying that we're still not a work in progress, because with the amount of transition that has happened in Test cricket—especially with the likes of Rohit, Virat, and Ashwin leaving, obviously it is very difficult to replace those kinds of players. Because of the amount of talent, experience, and what those guys have done for Indian cricket in red-ball cricket, it's not going to be easy for anyone to replace them, so it will take time," Gambhir noted. "I believe that since England, with Shubman taking over, we are heading in the right direction, but we are still a work in progress. I'm sure if we keep backing the right players, we'll reach there and probably Indian cricket will start dominating red-ball cricket for a long, long period of time. "If you see in red-ball cricket, look at the number of young guys that are in that red-ball squad, look at their age, and look at the amount of Test matches they've played. So, when you're bringing new guys in, you are obviously trying to make them feel how important Test cricket is, because I am a very big believer that a strong Test-cricketing nation is a strong cricketing nation. It's not the other way around. I've never believed that a strong T20-cricketing nation is a strong cricketing nation. So red-ball still remains our priority." Where to watch India vs West Indies ODI series live? India vs West Indies can be watched live from September 27 to October 3 at 2 PM on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.

Gautam Gambhir reflected on his coaching tenure - citing ICC title wins alongside series losses - as India prepares to host West Indies before touring New Zealand to avenge their 0-3 home Test defeat.

'I cherish my success and accept failures with both hands': India head coach Gambhir on his tenure so far

Indian men’s team head coach Gautam Gambhir said on Thursday that Hardik Pandya is currently not fit enough to bowl ten overs in an ODI, adding that India does not want to rush the all-rounder back into international cricket as he has played very little competitive cricket in the last four months. Pandya remains an important part of India’s limited-overs setup but has regularly been managed due to fitness issues and workload concerns.&nbsp;Gambhir indicated that once Pandya becomes fully fit to bowl, India could potentially play both him and young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy in the same XI.&nbsp;“Hardik Pandya can’t bowl 10 overs at the moment. We don’t want to rush him into international cricket. When he is fit, there is a possibility of both he and Nitish playing,” Gambhir said at the post-match press conference.&nbsp;India defeated Afghanistan by 127 runs in the third T20I to complete a 3-0 series sweep.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jos-buttler-creates-history-as-first-batter-to-reach-15-000-t20-runs-1789725058738">Jos Buttler creates history as first batter to reach 15,000 T20 runs</a> &nbsp;Gambhir’s comments suggest that Pandya’s return will depend largely on his ability to contribute with the ball as a genuine all-rounder, rather than being picked only for his batting.&nbsp;Pandya was named in the India A squad for the one-day series against Australia A in Puducherry, subject to a final fitness assessment by the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.&nbsp;He has not played competitive cricket since IPL 2026 due to a series of injuries and was selected for India’s ODI series against Afghanistan in June but suffered a leg injury before the matches.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-north-korean-anthem-plays-during-south-korea-hockey-match-1789728476565">Asian Games 2026: North Korean anthem plays during South Korea hockey match</a>&nbsp;Earlier, he had missed four games for Mumbai Indians due to back spasms and was undergoing conditioning work at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence when he suffered another setback. &nbsp;The 32-year-old is expected to undergo a fitness test next week. While he is likely to be cleared, the selectors remain cautious about rushing him back, given his importance to India’s balance in the 50-over format.

Coach Gautam Gambhir said that Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy could play together for India once Pandya regains full fitness and is able to bowl regularly.

Indian men’s team head coach Gautam Gambhir said on Thursday that Hardik Pandya is currently not fit enough to bowl ten overs in an ODI, adding that India does not want to rush the all-rounder back into international cricket as he has played very little competitive cricket in the last four months. Pandya remains an important part of India’s limited-overs setup but has regularly been managed due to fitness issues and workload concerns. Gambhir indicated that once Pandya becomes fully fit to bowl, India could potentially play both him and young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy in the same XI. “Hardik Pandya can’t bowl 10 overs at the moment. We don’t want to rush him into international cricket. When he is fit, there is a possibility of both he and Nitish playing,” Gambhir said at the post-match press conference. India defeated Afghanistan by 127 runs in the third T20I to complete a 3-0 series sweep. Also Read - Jos Buttler creates history as first batter to reach 15,000 T20 runs Gambhir’s comments suggest that Pandya’s return will depend largely on his ability to contribute with the ball as a genuine all-rounder, rather than being picked only for his batting. Pandya was named in the India A squad for the one-day series against Australia A in Puducherry, subject to a final fitness assessment by the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. He has not played competitive cricket since IPL 2026 due to a series of injuries and was selected for India’s ODI series against Afghanistan in June but suffered a leg injury before the matches. Also Read - Asian Games 2026: North Korean anthem plays during South Korea hockey match Earlier, he had missed four games for Mumbai Indians due to back spasms and was undergoing conditioning work at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence when he suffered another setback. The 32-year-old is expected to undergo a fitness test next week. While he is likely to be cleared, the selectors remain cautious about rushing him back, given his importance to India’s balance in the 50-over format.

Coach Gautam Gambhir said that Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy could play together for India once Pandya regains full fitness and is able to bowl regularly.

'He cannot bowl...': Gautam Gambhir reveals clear plan for Hardik Pandya's India return

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has made it clear that teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to wait for his opportunity to get in the playing XI. Gambhir's comments came after India won the third and final T20I against Afghanistan on Thursday (Sep 17) to complete the 3-0 whitewash. There was speculation that Sooryavanshi, 15, might play ahead of Sanju Samson in the final T20I, but Gambhir stayed with the tried and tested opening pair of Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Gambhir's decision paid off as both players scored two fifty-plus scores in three matches.<h2>Gambhir confirms Sooryavanshi will not walk into the team ahead of Samson</h2>"From Vaibhav’s point of view, it was again a very clear conversation that he has to wait for his opportunity. We know the kind of talent he has. We know what he can do, but again, someone who’s done extremely well over a period of two years (Sanju Samson), obviously, he will always be ahead of someone who’s just walked into the team. So, whenever he gets that run, he will get a longer run as well, and that is what Indian cricket is all about. You want competition, you want that talent in the dressing room, but sometimes that’s how cricket goes, whether you’re a 15-year-old or a 30-year-old. When you have to wait for your opportunity, you have to wait for your opportunity," Gambhir said at the post-match presentation.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-afg-abhishek-sharma-scripts-history-surpasses-rohit-sharma-for-fastest-indian-t20i-ton-1789655941283">Abhishek Sharma surpasses Rohit Sharma for fastest Indian T20I ton</a><h2>How has Sooryavanshi performed in T20Is?</h2>The 15-year-old became India's youngest debutant two months ago in England when Samson was dropped after the first two matches of the five-match series. He managed 42 runs in the three games he got. In the next series against Zimbabwe, Sooryavanshi played all three matches and scored 151 runs at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 196.10.Gambhir, however, turned back to Samson, who helped India retain the T20 World Cup title earlier this year, for the Afghanistan series.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must wait his turn as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma remain the primary T20I openers following a 3-0 series win over Afghanistan.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has made it clear that teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to wait for his opportunity to get in the playing XI. Gambhir's comments came after India won the third and final T20I against Afghanistan on Thursday (Sep 17) to complete the 3-0 whitewash. There was speculation that Sooryavanshi, 15, might play ahead of Sanju Samson in the final T20I, but Gambhir stayed with the tried and tested opening pair of Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Gambhir's decision paid off as both players scored two fifty-plus scores in three matches. Gambhir confirms Sooryavanshi will not walk into the team ahead of Samson "From Vaibhav’s point of view, it was again a very clear conversation that he has to wait for his opportunity. We know the kind of talent he has. We know what he can do, but again, someone who’s done extremely well over a period of two years (Sanju Samson), obviously, he will always be ahead of someone who’s just walked into the team. So, whenever he gets that run, he will get a longer run as well, and that is what Indian cricket is all about. You want competition, you want that talent in the dressing room, but sometimes that’s how cricket goes, whether you’re a 15-year-old or a 30-year-old. When you have to wait for your opportunity, you have to wait for your opportunity," Gambhir said at the post-match presentation. Also Read - Abhishek Sharma surpasses Rohit Sharma for fastest Indian T20I ton How has Sooryavanshi performed in T20Is? The 15-year-old became India's youngest debutant two months ago in England when Samson was dropped after the first two matches of the five-match series. He managed 42 runs in the three games he got. In the next series against Zimbabwe, Sooryavanshi played all three matches and scored 151 runs at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 196.10. Gambhir, however, turned back to Samson, who helped India retain the T20 World Cup title earlier this year, for the Afghanistan series.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must wait his turn as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma remain the primary T20I openers following a 3-0 series win over Afghanistan.

'He will always be ahead': India coach Gambhir says Sooryavanshi won't walk into team ahead of Samson

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav has spoken openly about being left out of India’s playing XI across formats, admitting that he feels disappointed when the team management does not consider him for a match. During Rahul Dravid’s tenure as India’s head coach from Nov 2021 to Jun 2024, Kuldeep played 60 matches across formats, averaging almost two appearances a month. Under Gautam Gambhir, however, he has featured in only 38 matches, around 1.5 games per month.&nbsp;There have been several recent instances where the team management chose not to include Kuldeep. During the three-match ODI series against England, India went with four pacers instead of picking the spinner for the final game.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, Kuldeep was left out after limited involvement in the first Test, with off-spinner Saransh Jain preferred for the second match. Jain failed to take a wicket in that game.&nbsp;“Sometimes you just have to go with the team combination or strategy, unfortunately or fortunately. Definitely you feel bad for yourself when you’re not playing, when you’re not part of the playing XI,” Kuldeep told talkSPORT.&nbsp;“You want to play because when you are in the squad you want to play, but sometimes it doesn’t happen because of whatever the management thinks… Last year, I was hoping to get a chance in a few games, but it’s okay. Maybe next time,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/brendan-taylor-surpasses-sachin-tendulkar-for-longest-odi-career-1789476290529">Brendan Taylor surpasses Sachin Tendulkar for longest ODI career</a>&nbsp;With limited opportunities for India, Kuldeep has explored other ways to get match practice. He played for Yorkshire in the County Championship and made a strong impact, taking 10 wickets in three matches at an average of 12.&nbsp;“I personally feel it’s (English county experience) very good for batters and spinners. Obviously, you will see seaming conditions here and there, but you play here to get used to the challenges you face. You’re not going to face them back home because you grew up playing there and you know the conditions pretty well,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-punishes-kranti-gaud-pakistan-team-after-women-s-asia-cup-here-s-why-1789470253890">ICC punishes Kranti Gaud, Pakistan team after Women’s Asia Cup: Here’s why</a>&nbsp;With Varun Chakaravarthy currently injured and out of the T20I squad, it remains to be seen whether Gambhir and the team management decide to bring Kuldeep back into the side.

Kuldeep Yadav recently claimed his maiden 10-wicket haul in First-Class cricket at Headingley, registering career-best figures of 6 for 50 as Yorkshire secured an innings victory over Essex.

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav has spoken openly about being left out of India’s playing XI across formats, admitting that he feels disappointed when the team management does not consider him for a match. During Rahul Dravid’s tenure as India’s head coach from Nov 2021 to Jun 2024, Kuldeep played 60 matches across formats, averaging almost two appearances a month. Under Gautam Gambhir, however, he has featured in only 38 matches, around 1.5 games per month. There have been several recent instances where the team management chose not to include Kuldeep. During the three-match ODI series against England, India went with four pacers instead of picking the spinner for the final game. In the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, Kuldeep was left out after limited involvement in the first Test, with off-spinner Saransh Jain preferred for the second match. Jain failed to take a wicket in that game. “Sometimes you just have to go with the team combination or strategy, unfortunately or fortunately. Definitely you feel bad for yourself when you’re not playing, when you’re not part of the playing XI,” Kuldeep told talkSPORT. “You want to play because when you are in the squad you want to play, but sometimes it doesn’t happen because of whatever the management thinks… Last year, I was hoping to get a chance in a few games, but it’s okay. Maybe next time,” he said. Also Read - Brendan Taylor surpasses Sachin Tendulkar for longest ODI career With limited opportunities for India, Kuldeep has explored other ways to get match practice. He played for Yorkshire in the County Championship and made a strong impact, taking 10 wickets in three matches at an average of 12. “I personally feel it’s (English county experience) very good for batters and spinners. Obviously, you will see seaming conditions here and there, but you play here to get used to the challenges you face. You’re not going to face them back home because you grew up playing there and you know the conditions pretty well,” he said. Also Read - ICC punishes Kranti Gaud, Pakistan team after Women’s Asia Cup: Here’s why With Varun Chakaravarthy currently injured and out of the T20I squad, it remains to be seen whether Gambhir and the team management decide to bring Kuldeep back into the side.

Kuldeep Yadav recently claimed his maiden 10-wicket haul in First-Class cricket at Headingley, registering career-best figures of 6 for 50 as Yorkshire secured an innings victory over Essex.

'Definitely feel bad for yourself': Kuldeep Yadav opens up on India Test snubs

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is keen to keep players fit after a recent spate of injuries to multiple players. The board, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir, Centre of Excellence (CoE) chief VVS Laxman, ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill, and T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer, met in Mumbai on Thursday (Sep 3) to discuss the matter. The top-brass meeting with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia came after recent T20I series losses against Ireland and England, as well as an ODI series loss against the latter. Many players, including Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Reddy, were either injured on the UK tour or in the lead-up to it, which eventually reflected in the results.<h2>How the BCCI plans to keep players injury-free</h2>The board secretary acknowledged, while talking after the Thursday meeting as reported by ESPNcricinfo, that "individual players are having injuries because they have to play a lot of matches."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/women-s-asia-cup-2026-india-s-smriti-mandhana-is-now-best-batter-ever-in-women-s-cricket-1788491747077">Women's Asia Cup 2026: India's Smriti Mandhana is now best batter ever in women's cricket</a>The players who were selected for the UK tour had played in the IPL for two months right before it, which "takes a toll on the health of the players as well. And to avoid those kinds of situations, what best we can do under the present windows and present FTPs, we are trying to find a way forward.""The only challenges which we are facing is that there are too many matches in the year and that is why in the next FTP, we will do certain things, we will take certain measures," he said. "We have instructed our FTP person, who will be meeting very soon in various international forums, that our FTP should be scheduled in such a way that there is proper rest for the players as well as some kind of acclimatisation or friendly matches before any major series in SENA countries."<h2>What is next for the Indian men's cricket team?</h2>The Indian men's team recently returned from Sri Lanka, where they won the two-Test series 1-0. The team next plays three T20Is against Afghanistan on Sep 13, 15, and 17 in New Delhi. After that, the Indian team will compete in the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, where the board has announced a full-strength squad.

Following player injury concerns, the BCCI met with leadership—including Gautam Gambhir, VVS Laxman, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer—to plan workload fixes and FTP scheduling changes for rest.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is keen to keep players fit after a recent spate of injuries to multiple players. The board, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir, Centre of Excellence (CoE) chief VVS Laxman, ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill, and T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer, met in Mumbai on Thursday (Sep 3) to discuss the matter. The top-brass meeting with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia came after recent T20I series losses against Ireland and England, as well as an ODI series loss against the latter. Many players, including Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Reddy, were either injured on the UK tour or in the lead-up to it, which eventually reflected in the results. How the BCCI plans to keep players injury-free The board secretary acknowledged, while talking after the Thursday meeting as reported by ESPNcricinfo, that "individual players are having injuries because they have to play a lot of matches." Also Read - Women's Asia Cup 2026: India's Smriti Mandhana is now best batter ever in women's cricket The players who were selected for the UK tour had played in the IPL for two months right before it, which "takes a toll on the health of the players as well. And to avoid those kinds of situations, what best we can do under the present windows and present FTPs, we are trying to find a way forward." "The only challenges which we are facing is that there are too many matches in the year and that is why in the next FTP, we will do certain things, we will take certain measures," he said. "We have instructed our FTP person, who will be meeting very soon in various international forums, that our FTP should be scheduled in such a way that there is proper rest for the players as well as some kind of acclimatisation or friendly matches before any major series in SENA countries." What is next for the Indian men's cricket team? The Indian men's team recently returned from Sri Lanka, where they won the two-Test series 1-0. The team next plays three T20Is against Afghanistan on Sep 13, 15, and 17 in New Delhi. After that, the Indian team will compete in the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, where the board has announced a full-strength squad.

Following player injury concerns, the BCCI met with leadership—including Gautam Gambhir, VVS Laxman, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer—to plan workload fixes and FTP scheduling changes for rest.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia shares how board is planning to keep players injury free

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) National Cricket Academy (NCA) director VVS Laxman is back as India men's head coach for the upcoming Asian Games 2026. The continental event will run from September 19 to October 4 in Japan's Aichi-Nagoya. Laxman will have a support staff of Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and new fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh. Laxman was also India's head coach for Asian Games 2023 where the team won the gold medal. The news was confirmed by a <a href="https://yas.gov.in/sites/default/files/Asian_Games_sanction_for_coaches_and_suppor_%20staff.pdf">circular issued by India's Ministry of Youth Affairs</a> and Sports on Wednesday (Sep 2). The Asian Games cricket event will take place from September 17 to October 3 (men's and women's).<h2>Why VVS Laxman and not Gambhir coaching India men's team at Asian Games 2026?</h2>This is not the first time VVS Laxman has been roped in to coach the Indian side. He was recently the head coach for India's tour of Zimbabwe and has handled the responsibilities multiple times since 2022. For the Asian Games 2026, he has been asked to handle the head coach position as the India men's team schedule at the continental games will overlap with a home ODI series against West Indies. India's regular head coach Gautam Gambhir will be with the ODI squad at home during the series.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-s-from-all-players-pakistan-skipper-babar-azam-exchange-with-uk-king-charles-goes-viral-1788425476025">'It's from all players': Babar's exchange with UK King Charles goes viral</a>The India men's team has received a bye in the first round of the Asian Games and will play in their first match, a quarter-final, on September 28. The home ODI series against West Indies runs from September 27 to October 3. India has announced a full-strength squad for the Asian Games 2026 led by Shreyas Iyer and featuring players like Tilak Varma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Jasprit Bumrah.<h2>What about the India women's team?</h2>The India women's team, which is also the gold medal holder from the previous edition, will be coached by their regular staff of head coach Amol Muzumdar, bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi, and fielding coach Munish Bali. The team will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur with Smriti Mandhana, who recently became women's cricket's highest run-getter, as her deputy.

VVS Laxman will coach the Indian men's cricket team at the 2026 Asian Games as regular coach Gautam Gambhir leads the ODI squad vs West Indies. Amol Muzumdar remains women's head coach.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) National Cricket Academy (NCA) director VVS Laxman is back as India men's head coach for the upcoming Asian Games 2026. The continental event will run from September 19 to October 4 in Japan's Aichi-Nagoya. Laxman will have a support staff of Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and new fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh. Laxman was also India's head coach for Asian Games 2023 where the team won the gold medal. The news was confirmed by a circular issued by India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Wednesday (Sep 2). The Asian Games cricket event will take place from September 17 to October 3 (men's and women's). Why VVS Laxman and not Gambhir coaching India men's team at Asian Games 2026? This is not the first time VVS Laxman has been roped in to coach the Indian side. He was recently the head coach for India's tour of Zimbabwe and has handled the responsibilities multiple times since 2022. For the Asian Games 2026, he has been asked to handle the head coach position as the India men's team schedule at the continental games will overlap with a home ODI series against West Indies. India's regular head coach Gautam Gambhir will be with the ODI squad at home during the series. Also Read - 'It's from all players': Babar's exchange with UK King Charles goes viral The India men's team has received a bye in the first round of the Asian Games and will play in their first match, a quarter-final, on September 28. The home ODI series against West Indies runs from September 27 to October 3. India has announced a full-strength squad for the Asian Games 2026 led by Shreyas Iyer and featuring players like Tilak Varma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Jasprit Bumrah. What about the India women's team? The India women's team, which is also the gold medal holder from the previous edition, will be coached by their regular staff of head coach Amol Muzumdar, bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi, and fielding coach Munish Bali. The team will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur with Smriti Mandhana, who recently became women's cricket's highest run-getter, as her deputy.

VVS Laxman will coach the Indian men's cricket team at the 2026 Asian Games as regular coach Gautam Gambhir leads the ODI squad vs West Indies. Amol Muzumdar remains women's head coach.

Asian Games 2026: VVS Laxman back as India men's head coach for Shreyas Iyer-led side

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has slammed the hype around Test rankings and talks about India’s slump in red-ball cricket. For the first time since beating West Indies in a home Test series in October, India won a Test match in Galle earlier this week. India, the two-time WTC finalists, currently sit fifth in the ongoing cycle with five wins, four losses, and a draw in 10 contested matches. For India to qualify for their third WTC final, they must at least win six of their remaining eight matches; Gambhir, however, feels no outside noise can affect his goal: to win ICC trophies for India. &nbsp;"Rankings do not matter. We are not struggling. Since the England tour, we have played reasonable Test cricket," Gambhir said ahead of the Colombo Test.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rahul-dravid-backs-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-test-cricket-revival-1787384969431">Rahul Dravid backs 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to lead Test cricket revival</a> &nbsp;Since Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Test retirements last year, India drew the away Test series in England (2-2), only beat the West Indies at home (2-0) but suffered a clean sweep against South Africa (0-2) in November – their second since losing a three-match home Test series (0-3) to New Zealand in late 2024. Even though India’s Test cricket is not close to its best, Gambhir feels the team hasn’t performed badly in Tests, and it’s going through a transition period. &nbsp;"My job is to win trophies, not to garner views and likes. We’re not doing too badly in Test cricket since England, and this team is going through a transition phase," he added. &nbsp;However, in their first away Test on this tour, India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs, with spinners doing the major damage. Newcomer Manav Suthar has become an emerging star following his second five-wicket haul in only his second Test, and a maiden 10-wicket haul in the game. On the contrary, ace spinner Kuldeep Yadav has struggled to trouble the batters across formats. &nbsp;Speaking on providing him with an extended rope despite his lean patch, Gambhir said, "We will try to field the best bowling attack that can get us 20 wickets. Kuldeep is a good bowler, and sometimes it's up to the captain as well.”

Gautam Gambhir defends India's Test record, asserting his job is to win trophies rather than chase views. Read his thoughts on WTC qualification, transition, and player backing. 

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has slammed the hype around Test rankings and talks about India’s slump in red-ball cricket. For the first time since beating West Indies in a home Test series in October, India won a Test match in Galle earlier this week. India, the two-time WTC finalists, currently sit fifth in the ongoing cycle with five wins, four losses, and a draw in 10 contested matches. For India to qualify for their third WTC final, they must at least win six of their remaining eight matches; Gambhir, however, feels no outside noise can affect his goal: to win ICC trophies for India. "Rankings do not matter. We are not struggling. Since the England tour, we have played reasonable Test cricket," Gambhir said ahead of the Colombo Test. Also read| Rahul Dravid backs 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to lead Test cricket revival Since Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Test retirements last year, India drew the away Test series in England (2-2), only beat the West Indies at home (2-0) but suffered a clean sweep against South Africa (0-2) in November – their second since losing a three-match home Test series (0-3) to New Zealand in late 2024. Even though India’s Test cricket is not close to its best, Gambhir feels the team hasn’t performed badly in Tests, and it’s going through a transition period. "My job is to win trophies, not to garner views and likes. We’re not doing too badly in Test cricket since England, and this team is going through a transition phase," he added. However, in their first away Test on this tour, India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs, with spinners doing the major damage. Newcomer Manav Suthar has become an emerging star following his second five-wicket haul in only his second Test, and a maiden 10-wicket haul in the game. On the contrary, ace spinner Kuldeep Yadav has struggled to trouble the batters across formats. Speaking on providing him with an extended rope despite his lean patch, Gambhir said, "We will try to field the best bowling attack that can get us 20 wickets. Kuldeep is a good bowler, and sometimes it's up to the captain as well.”

Gautam Gambhir defends India's Test record, asserting his job is to win trophies rather than chase views. Read his thoughts on WTC qualification, transition, and player backing.&nbsp;

‘Rankings don’t matter; my job is to win trophies’: Gautam Gambhir defends India’s Test slump

India's 2011 ODI World Cup winning coach Gary Kirsten, who currently is head coach of Sri Lanka team, has backed India coach Gautam Gambhir amid the scrutiny around him. Gambhir has been criticised for loss in Test series against New Zealand and South Africa at home, but has coached India to two ICC trophies since taking over in 2024 from Rahul Dravid. Notably, Gambhir also played the important 97-run innings during the 2011 ODI World Cup final which India won under Kirsten.<h2>Gary Kirsten backs Gambhir as India coach</h2>India are currently in Sri Lanka for two-Test series and the series is very crucial for India's World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 Final aspirations. The India team is without Jasprit Bumrah as pace spearhead and Sai Sudharsan as well. Kirsten, meanwhile, has backed Gambhir as the Indian coach, citing his record.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aus-vs-ban-1st-test-smith-agrees-he-certainly-felt-something-on-drs-snicko-controversy-1786680861675">AUS vs BAN, 1st Test: Smith agrees he 'certainly felt something' on DRS-Snicko controversy</a>"He (Gambhir) is a fantastic coach. He has had incredible success, won two World Cups (Kirsten referring to 2025 Champions Trophy and 2026 T20 World Cup). He’s also had success in the IPL (KKR winning IPL 2024 with him as mentor), so his record speaks for itself. I really enjoyed working with him. I knew he’d have success as a coach as well,” said Kirsten ahead of the first Test which starts August 15.<h2>India's WTC 2025-27 standings</h2>India are currently fifth (48.15%) on the WTC 2025-27 cycle with four wins, four losses, and one draw in nine Tests. Sri Lanka (41.67%) are right under India with one win, one loss, and two draws from four Tests played so far. Along with Bumrah, Nitish Reddy, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan, and Washington Sundar are also out injured, putting a lot of pressure on the inexperienced Indian team.<a href="https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/indias-squad-for-the-tour-of-sri-lanka-announced-2026">India’s squad for Sri Lanka Tests</a> – Shubman Gill (captain), K L Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (w/k), Dhruv Jurel (w/k), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi and Sarfaraz Khan

Former India coach Gary Kirsten backed Gautam Gambhir, highlighting his ICC trophy wins, as India prepare for a crucial Sri Lanka Test series amid recent home losses and WTC standings pressure.

India's 2011 ODI World Cup winning coach Gary Kirsten, who currently is head coach of Sri Lanka team, has backed India coach Gautam Gambhir amid the scrutiny around him. Gambhir has been criticised for loss in Test series against New Zealand and South Africa at home, but has coached India to two ICC trophies since taking over in 2024 from Rahul Dravid. Notably, Gambhir also played the important 97-run innings during the 2011 ODI World Cup final which India won under Kirsten. Gary Kirsten backs Gambhir as India coach India are currently in Sri Lanka for two-Test series and the series is very crucial for India's World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 Final aspirations. The India team is without Jasprit Bumrah as pace spearhead and Sai Sudharsan as well. Kirsten, meanwhile, has backed Gambhir as the Indian coach, citing his record. Also Read - AUS vs BAN, 1st Test: Smith agrees he 'certainly felt something' on DRS-Snicko controversy "He (Gambhir) is a fantastic coach. He has had incredible success, won two World Cups (Kirsten referring to 2025 Champions Trophy and 2026 T20 World Cup). He’s also had success in the IPL (KKR winning IPL 2024 with him as mentor), so his record speaks for itself. I really enjoyed working with him. I knew he’d have success as a coach as well,” said Kirsten ahead of the first Test which starts August 15. India's WTC 2025-27 standings India are currently fifth (48.15%) on the WTC 2025-27 cycle with four wins, four losses, and one draw in nine Tests. Sri Lanka (41.67%) are right under India with one win, one loss, and two draws from four Tests played so far. Along with Bumrah, Nitish Reddy, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan, and Washington Sundar are also out injured, putting a lot of pressure on the inexperienced Indian team. India’s squad for Sri Lanka Tests – Shubman Gill (captain), K L Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (w/k), Dhruv Jurel (w/k), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi and Sarfaraz Khan

Former India coach Gary Kirsten backed Gautam Gambhir, highlighting his ICC trophy wins, as India prepare for a crucial Sri Lanka Test series amid recent home losses and WTC standings pressure.

IND vs SL: India's 2011 ODI WC winning coach Kirsten backs Gambhir as coach amid scrutiny

Indian cricket is working towards its next goal - the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2027 - and Rohit Sharma is one name keeping the selectors and the team management thinking. While the decision-makers continue to contemplate Rohit’s position in the playing XI for the showpiece event, considering he will be turning 40 by the time the World Cup gets underway, his former India teammate Ajinkya Rahane has backed the veteran opener to retain his place. &nbsp;Rahane, who announced his international retirement recently, has urged the head coach (Gautam Gambhir) and BCCI chief selector (Ajit Agarkar) to bring clarity into Rohit’s case. Rahane feels that for someone of Rohit’s stature, he deserves to be in the starting XI without a doubt, while also asking the duo to communicate the same to Rohit.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/brett-lee-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-age-debate-15-years-old-1786251891060">‘If he’s 15, fantastic, but if he’s 17 or 18, who cares?’: Brett Lee on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi age debate</a> &nbsp;Having faced selection snubs since his exploits in the 2023 WTC Final against Australia, Rahane explained what happens when a player's position remains in limbo. He further noted that cricket is all about rhythm, and bringing clarity to players helps them be in the right space.<h2>‘Cricket is About Rhythm’</h2>"I think it's important to tell Rohit Sharma that he's going to play the 2027 World Cup," Rahane said in a statement to The Indian Express. "If you see his contribution throughout so many years, it's been amazing. So, you need the experience of such a player in the World Cup. That discussion shouldn't even happen. If you say once, 'Rohit Sharma, you're going to play,' that's it. You can't go series by series because he's such a big player.” &nbsp;"If you treat a big player like that, because as I said, it's about rhythm.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Cricket is about rhythm. No matter how many matches you've played, whether you're a youngster or an experienced player in the team, it's about rhythm. If your mind is free, you can play with that mindset. As for Rohit's quality, there's no need to even speak about it. Such experience is needed in the team, so this debate shouldn't even happen between the team management and the captain,” he continued. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Rohit last appeared for India during the away England ODIs, scoring a magnificent hundred in the deciding One-Dayer at Lord’s. Speculations that Rohit would end his decorated 50-over career at Lord’s ahead of that match made headlines, with the selectors communicating their plans to him, but his 138 answered all questions. &nbsp;Should Rohit continue, his next assignment will be the home ODI series against the West Indies starting in late September.&nbsp;

Ajinkya Rahane urges Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar to offer Rohit Sharma full clarity regarding his role in India's 2027 ODI World Cup plans.

Indian cricket is working towards its next goal - the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2027 - and Rohit Sharma is one name keeping the selectors and the team management thinking. While the decision-makers continue to contemplate Rohit’s position in the playing XI for the showpiece event, considering he will be turning 40 by the time the World Cup gets underway, his former India teammate Ajinkya Rahane has backed the veteran opener to retain his place. Rahane, who announced his international retirement recently, has urged the head coach (Gautam Gambhir) and BCCI chief selector (Ajit Agarkar) to bring clarity into Rohit’s case. Rahane feels that for someone of Rohit’s stature, he deserves to be in the starting XI without a doubt, while also asking the duo to communicate the same to Rohit. Also read| ‘If he’s 15, fantastic, but if he’s 17 or 18, who cares?’: Brett Lee on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi age debate Having faced selection snubs since his exploits in the 2023 WTC Final against Australia, Rahane explained what happens when a player's position remains in limbo. He further noted that cricket is all about rhythm, and bringing clarity to players helps them be in the right space. ‘Cricket is About Rhythm’ "I think it's important to tell Rohit Sharma that he's going to play the 2027 World Cup," Rahane said in a statement to The Indian Express. "If you see his contribution throughout so many years, it's been amazing. So, you need the experience of such a player in the World Cup. That discussion shouldn't even happen. If you say once, 'Rohit Sharma, you're going to play,' that's it. You can't go series by series because he's such a big player.” "If you treat a big player like that, because as I said, it's about rhythm. "Cricket is about rhythm. No matter how many matches you've played, whether you're a youngster or an experienced player in the team, it's about rhythm. If your mind is free, you can play with that mindset. As for Rohit's quality, there's no need to even speak about it. Such experience is needed in the team, so this debate shouldn't even happen between the team management and the captain,” he continued. Meanwhile, Rohit last appeared for India during the away England ODIs, scoring a magnificent hundred in the deciding One-Dayer at Lord’s. Speculations that Rohit would end his decorated 50-over career at Lord’s ahead of that match made headlines, with the selectors communicating their plans to him, but his 138 answered all questions. Should Rohit continue, his next assignment will be the home ODI series against the West Indies starting in late September.

Ajinkya Rahane urges Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar to offer Rohit Sharma full clarity regarding his role in India's 2027 ODI World Cup plans.

‘Important to Tell Rohit about World Cup Plans’: Agarkar, Gambhir urged to bring clarity

After a disappointing tour of the United Kingdom, Team India begins a crucial three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. With several senior players rested, all eyes are on young stars, especially 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who returns to the venue where he led India to the Under-19 World Cup title. Captain Shreyas Iyer faces mounting pressure after India's poor run in England, while Gautam Gambhir will look for a strong comeback from his side.

Can India's young brigade turn things around against Zimbabwe? Watch our full preview of the 1st T20I, probable playing XI, key players, and everything you need to know.

India Begin Zimbabwe T20 Series With Young Squad As Pressure Mounts On Gautam Gambhir

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has backed the International Cricket Council (ICC) proposal to allow the use of a pink ball in place of the traditional red ball when Test matches are interrupted due to poor light. His comments came ahead of India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, a match that could potentially be affected by fading light conditions.&nbsp;Gambhir emphasised that teams should not miss crucial opportunities to have a result due to factors beyond their control. He added that losing valuable playing time because of bad light could have significant consequences, especially in the race for qualification to the World Test Championship (WTC) final.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters on Friday (Jun 5), Gambhir said he fully supports the initiative, arguing that every effort should be made to ensure matches reach a meaningful conclusion. He pointed out that it would be disappointing for a team to miss out on WTC qualification after two years of hard work simply because weather or light conditions prevented play.&nbsp;"I love that because I've always believed that if there's an opportunity to get a result, you should always have that opportunity. Imagine if you are playing the last Test match before the World Test Championship final and you have the chance to win that Test match to qualify, but because of bad light, it's not happening. So I'm all for it," Gambhir said on Friday.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-2026-final-maja-chwalinska-s-fairytale-run-faces-its-biggest-test-against-mirra-andreeva-1780640837748">French Open 2026 Final: History-maker Maja Chwalinska vs in-form Mirra Andreeva</a> "If there's an opportunity to get the result, if both teams agree to it... I know it could be a little unfair and difficult for the players, but imagine working hard for two years and the last Test match before the World Test Championship final, if you don't play five days because of bad light, how unfair that could be. So I think it's a proactive move, it's a positive move, and, hopefully, the teams will start taking it in a positive way," he added.&nbsp;India enter the Afghanistan Test after a difficult home series against South Africa, where they were beaten 2-0. The team currently occupies sixth place in the WTC standings, having secured 48.15 percent of the available points from nine matches.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has backed the International Cricket Council (ICC) proposal to use a pink ball instead of the traditional red ball as a way to reduce disruptions caused by poor light in Test cricket.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has backed the International Cricket Council (ICC) proposal to allow the use of a pink ball in place of the traditional red ball when Test matches are interrupted due to poor light. His comments came ahead of India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, a match that could potentially be affected by fading light conditions. Gambhir emphasised that teams should not miss crucial opportunities to have a result due to factors beyond their control. He added that losing valuable playing time because of bad light could have significant consequences, especially in the race for qualification to the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Speaking to reporters on Friday (Jun 5), Gambhir said he fully supports the initiative, arguing that every effort should be made to ensure matches reach a meaningful conclusion. He pointed out that it would be disappointing for a team to miss out on WTC qualification after two years of hard work simply because weather or light conditions prevented play. "I love that because I've always believed that if there's an opportunity to get a result, you should always have that opportunity. Imagine if you are playing the last Test match before the World Test Championship final and you have the chance to win that Test match to qualify, but because of bad light, it's not happening. So I'm all for it," Gambhir said on Friday. Also Read - French Open 2026 Final: History-maker Maja Chwalinska vs in-form Mirra Andreeva "If there's an opportunity to get the result, if both teams agree to it... I know it could be a little unfair and difficult for the players, but imagine working hard for two years and the last Test match before the World Test Championship final, if you don't play five days because of bad light, how unfair that could be. So I think it's a proactive move, it's a positive move, and, hopefully, the teams will start taking it in a positive way," he added. India enter the Afghanistan Test after a difficult home series against South Africa, where they were beaten 2-0. The team currently occupies sixth place in the WTC standings, having secured 48.15 percent of the available points from nine matches. With inputs from agencies

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has backed the International Cricket Council (ICC) proposal to use a pink ball instead of the traditional red ball as a way to reduce disruptions caused by poor light in Test cricket.

'If there’s an opportunity to get a result…': Gambhir in favour of red-ball and pink-ball switch

From Ajinkya Rahane to Shikhar Dhawan here is a look at five batters with most ducks as an opener in IPL. The list also consists names like Parthiv Patel, Gautam Gambhir and David Warner after Rahane has topped the unwanted club.

From Ajinkya Rahane to Shikhar Dhawan here is a look at five batters with most ducks as an opener in IPL. The list also consists names like Parthiv Patel, Gautam Gambhir and David Warner after Rahane has topped the unwanted club.

From Ajinkya Rahane to Shikhar Dhawan, 5 batters with most ducks as an opener in IPL

From Rajat Patidar to Gautam Gambhir here is a list of five captains with most consecutive wins in IPL history. The prestigious also features the likes of Shane Warne, Shreyas Iyer and MS Dhoni. 

From Rajat Patidar to Gautam Gambhir here is a list of five captains with most consecutive wins in IPL history. The prestigious also features the likes of Shane Warne, Shreyas Iyer and MS Dhoni.&nbsp;

From Rajat Patidar to Gautam Gambhir, 5 captains with most consecutive wins in IPL history

Former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who led the team to first ever T20 World Cup during inaugural edition back in 2007, has congratulated the current team and coach Gautam Gambhir for Sunday's victory. India beat New Zealand on Sunday (Mar 8) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for a record third T20 World Cup title. With the win, India are now first to win three T20 WC title, first to win a T20 WC title at home, and also the first to defend a T20 WC title. Rohit Sharma had also led India to T20 World Cup title win in 2024.<h2>What did Dhoni say about Gambhir?</h2>The two players, who played pivotal role in India's 2007 T20 WC as well as 2011 ODI World Cup win, are constantly pitted against each other on social media by the fans. Both of them, however, have never taken each other's name in any form of critical comments.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2026-ishan-kishan-dedicates-title-win-to-cousin-who-died-a-day-before-final-1773016829832">T20 WC 2026 | Kishan dedicates title win to cousin who 'died a day before final'</a>Dhoni, who was present at the venue, took to Instagram after India's win and wrote: "History gets created at Ahmedabad,big congratulations to the team and support staff and to all the fans of Indian Cricket Team worldwide.such a pleasure to see all of u play. Coach Sahab (Sir) smile looks great on u, intensity with smile is a killer combo, very well done.enjoy guys. BUMRAH ke baare mein kuch na likhoon tou hi acha hai (better not to write anything about Bumrah.CHAMPION BOWLER."

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<h2>What next for India?</h2>After winning the third ICC white-ball title in as many years, India, as T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav after the match on Sunday (Mar 8), has set the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-win-t20-wc-2026-skipper-sky-sets-new-target-for-team-and-it-is-not-another-t20-world-cup-title-1773025498049">sight on LA28 Olympic gold medal</a>.The LA28 Olympics will be played from July 14 and 29 nearly two years later in Los Angeles, USA. Top six teams in the ICC men's and women's rankings, one each from a continent, will qualify for the Olympics and India men's team is all but sure to qualify from Asia. All the matches will be played at the temporary Fairgrounds Stadium, in the city of Pomona, about 50km from Los Angeles.&nbsp;

Dhoni and Gambhir, who played pivotal role in India's 2007 T20 WC as well as 2011 ODI World Cup win, are constantly pitted against each other on social media by the fans. Both of them, however, have never taken each other's name in any form of critical comments.

Former India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who led the team to first ever T20 World Cup during inaugural edition back in 2007, has congratulated the current team and coach Gautam Gambhir for Sunday's victory. India beat New Zealand on Sunday (Mar 8) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for a record third T20 World Cup title. With the win, India are now first to win three T20 WC title, first to win a T20 WC title at home, and also the first to defend a T20 WC title. Rohit Sharma had also led India to T20 World Cup title win in 2024. What did Dhoni say about Gambhir? The two players, who played pivotal role in India's 2007 T20 WC as well as 2011 ODI World Cup win, are constantly pitted against each other on social media by the fans. Both of them, however, have never taken each other's name in any form of critical comments. Also Read - T20 WC 2026 | Kishan dedicates title win to cousin who 'died a day before final' Dhoni, who was present at the venue, took to Instagram after India's win and wrote: "History gets created at Ahmedabad,big congratulations to the team and support staff and to all the fans of Indian Cricket Team worldwide.such a pleasure to see all of u play. Coach Sahab (Sir) smile looks great on u, intensity with smile is a killer combo, very well done.enjoy guys. BUMRAH ke baare mein kuch na likhoon tou hi acha hai (better not to write anything about Bumrah.CHAMPION BOWLER."

Dhoni and Gambhir, who played pivotal role in India's 2007 T20 WC as well as 2011 ODI World Cup win, are constantly pitted against each other on social media by the fans. Both of them, however, have never taken each other's name in any form of critical comments.

INDIA WIN T20 WC 2026 | 'Intensity with smile is...,' MS Dhoni's post for COACH Gautam Gambhir breaks internet

India head coach gauta Gambhir lauded the players' team first mentality after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-beat-new-zealand-in-ahmedabad-to-win-3rd-t20-world-cup-title-script-history-sanju-samson-abhishek-sharma-jasprit-bumrah-shivam-dube-1772987200533">record third T20 World Cup title win</a> on Sunday (Mar 8) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Gambhir, who had won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 under MS Dhoni, has now led India to two back-to-back ICC white-ball trophies. Before the T20 World Cup 2026 title win, India had also won the Champions Trophy 2025 as well. The Indian head coach, at the post-match presentation, also vowed to never let personal milestone come in the way of team.<h2>What India coach Gambhir said about personal milestones after T20 WC title win?</h2>"My simple philosophy, and Surya's too, has always been that milestones don't matter. It's the trophies that matter. For too long in Indian cricket, we have spoken about milestones. And I hope, till I am there, we are not going to talk about milestones," said the head coach at the post-match presentation.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2026-ishan-kishan-dedicates-title-win-to-cousin-who-died-a-day-before-final-1773016829832">T20 World Cup 2026 | Ishan Kishan dedicates title win to cousin who 'died a day before final'</a>The coach also invoked Player of the Tournament Sanju Samson's example to explain on his ideology and said: "You can see the last three games what Sanju [Samson] did. 97 not out, 89, 88. Imagine if he had been playing for a milestone, probably we wouldn't have got 250. So stop celebrating milestones, celebrate trophies. The bigger purpose of a team sport is to win trophies, not score individual runs. It has never mattered to me, and it will never matter to me."<h2>Why did Gambhir thank Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman for India's T20 WC win?</h2>The India coach also thanked his predecessor Rahul Dravid as well as BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman for their invalueable contirbution to the Indian cricket which helped the Suryakumar Yadav's team to win the T20 World Cup 2026 title."I think first of all I should dedicate this trophy to Rahul [Dravid] bhai, and then to VVS Laxman [bhai]," Gambhir said. "Because what Rahul bhai has done to keep Indian cricket in such a good shape during his tenure, I have to thank him for everything. And then VVS Laxman for unconditionally doing so much for Indian cricket behind the doors, because the CoE remains the pipeline for Indian cricket."

Gambhir, who had won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 under MS Dhoni, has now led India to two back-to-back ICC white-ball trophies. Before the T20 World Cup 2026 title win, India had also won the Champions Trophy 2025 as well.

India head coach gauta Gambhir lauded the players' team first mentality after the record third T20 World Cup title win on Sunday (Mar 8) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Gambhir, who had won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 under MS Dhoni, has now led India to two back-to-back ICC white-ball trophies. Before the T20 World Cup 2026 title win, India had also won the Champions Trophy 2025 as well. The Indian head coach, at the post-match presentation, also vowed to never let personal milestone come in the way of team. What India coach Gambhir said about personal milestones after T20 WC title win? "My simple philosophy, and Surya's too, has always been that milestones don't matter. It's the trophies that matter. For too long in Indian cricket, we have spoken about milestones. And I hope, till I am there, we are not going to talk about milestones," said the head coach at the post-match presentation. Also Read - T20 World Cup 2026 | Ishan Kishan dedicates title win to cousin who 'died a day before final' The coach also invoked Player of the Tournament Sanju Samson's example to explain on his ideology and said: "You can see the last three games what Sanju [Samson] did. 97 not out, 89, 88. Imagine if he had been playing for a milestone, probably we wouldn't have got 250. So stop celebrating milestones, celebrate trophies. The bigger purpose of a team sport is to win trophies, not score individual runs. It has never mattered to me, and it will never matter to me." Why did Gambhir thank Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman for India's T20 WC win? The India coach also thanked his predecessor Rahul Dravid as well as BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman for their invalueable contirbution to the Indian cricket which helped the Suryakumar Yadav's team to win the T20 World Cup 2026 title. "I think first of all I should dedicate this trophy to Rahul [Dravid] bhai, and then to VVS Laxman [bhai]," Gambhir said. "Because what Rahul bhai has done to keep Indian cricket in such a good shape during his tenure, I have to thank him for everything. And then VVS Laxman for unconditionally doing so much for Indian cricket behind the doors, because the CoE remains the pipeline for Indian cricket."

India win record third T20 World Cup title on Sunday (Mar 8).India beat New Zealand by 96 runs to defend title.Gambhir's second title as coach after leading India to Champions Trophy 2025 win.

INDIA WIN T20 WC 2026 | 'Never mattered to me,' coach Gambhir lauds players' mentality after record title win

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir strongly praised Sanju Samson after his unbeaten 97 helped India reach the semifinals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Gambhir said the innings showed the “real potential” that the team always believed Samson had. He scored a brilliant 97 not out at the Eden Gardens, leading India to a five-wicket win over West Indies in an important Super Eight match. The victory kept India’s hopes alive of defending their T20 World Cup title at home.&nbsp;After the match, Gambhir said everyone in the team knows Samson is a world-class player. He explained that the team continued to support him and when India needed him most, he delivered. Gambhir added that he hopes this innings is just the beginning, with two more matches left in the tournament.&nbsp;“Sanju is a world-class player, we all know how good a player he is. And it was all about backing him. And then when the team needed him the most, obviously today was a day where he probably showed his true potential, and hopefully, this is a time for him to kick off and probably two more games to go,” Gambhir told reporters after the match.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/afghanistan-tour-of-india-2026-full-schedule-match-timings-and-venues-1772435094703">Afghanistan tour of India 2026: Full schedule, match timings and venues</a>&nbsp;Gambhir further said that he was impressed with how simple and controlled Samson’s batting was and noted that Samson did not try to hit the ball too hard but played proper cricket shots. According to him, this shows Samson’s natural talent. He added that Samson had been batting well in practice and it was about showing that skill in the match.&nbsp;“Look, I actually thought that he never accelerated the innings. It was just a very, very normal cricketing shot, and I never saw any muscling the ball as well, and that is the kind of talent he has. When you know that you're in control of the game and you know that you're feeling good, he's hitting the ball really well in the nets and it's about going in the middle and showcasing that skill that you had,” said Gambhir.&nbsp;Gambhir once again said he has always believed in Samson’s talent and hopes he continues to play more such match-winning innings. He also dismissed criticism about Samson’s past scores, saying that coming back into the team and playing such an important knock would give him great confidence.&nbsp;

India’s five-wicket victory over the West Indies secured them a place in the semi-finals. They will now face England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir strongly praised Sanju Samson after his unbeaten 97 helped India reach the semifinals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Gambhir said the innings showed the “real potential” that the team always believed Samson had. He scored a brilliant 97 not out at the Eden Gardens, leading India to a five-wicket win over West Indies in an important Super Eight match. The victory kept India’s hopes alive of defending their T20 World Cup title at home. After the match, Gambhir said everyone in the team knows Samson is a world-class player. He explained that the team continued to support him and when India needed him most, he delivered. Gambhir added that he hopes this innings is just the beginning, with two more matches left in the tournament. “Sanju is a world-class player, we all know how good a player he is. And it was all about backing him. And then when the team needed him the most, obviously today was a day where he probably showed his true potential, and hopefully, this is a time for him to kick off and probably two more games to go,” Gambhir told reporters after the match. Also Read - Afghanistan tour of India 2026: Full schedule, match timings and venues Gambhir further said that he was impressed with how simple and controlled Samson’s batting was and noted that Samson did not try to hit the ball too hard but played proper cricket shots. According to him, this shows Samson’s natural talent. He added that Samson had been batting well in practice and it was about showing that skill in the match. “Look, I actually thought that he never accelerated the innings. It was just a very, very normal cricketing shot, and I never saw any muscling the ball as well, and that is the kind of talent he has. When you know that you're in control of the game and you know that you're feeling good, he's hitting the ball really well in the nets and it's about going in the middle and showcasing that skill that you had,” said Gambhir. Gambhir once again said he has always believed in Samson’s talent and hopes he continues to play more such match-winning innings. He also dismissed criticism about Samson’s past scores, saying that coming back into the team and playing such an important knock would give him great confidence.

India’s five-wicket victory over the West Indies secured them a place in the semi-finals. They will now face England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

‘He showed his true potential’: Gautam Gambhir lauds Samson’s unbeaten 97 against West Indies

Sanju Samson's record innings of 97 not out against West Indies on Sunday (Mar 1) a Eden Gardens in Kolkata put India in the semi-final of T20 World Cup 2026 and the batter says he 'never felt doing something special.' The wicketkeeper-batter, who went out of the playing XI just before the World Cup began, rescued India with the innings of his life, shutting up his doubters for good. While he fell short of hundred by just three runs, he will live in the hearts of fans forever as some 97s are more special than a 100 - remember 2011 ODI World Cup final? Samson, who now holds the record for the highest score in a T20 World Cup chase for India, was also awarded Player of the Match for his performance.<h2>Sanju reacts to match-winning innigs vs WI in T20 World Cup 2026</h2>Sanju started slowly but held one end firm as India lost a couple of wickets in the powerplay. He stayed calm and navigated the innings through middle overs as well before righfully hitting the winning shot. Speaking after the match, Sanju said: "I never felt that I would do something special like this but I was just focusing on my role. Just keeping one ball at a time and very grateful, I think this is one of the greatest days of my life."Talking about his approach, Samson revealed: I've seen the greatest people finish games and how they change their game according to the game [situation]... As soon as I wanted to go a bit higher, we were losing wickets, so I wanted to build a partnership and wanted to keep on focusing on my process."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/respect-the-name-sanju-samson-social-media-goes-bonkers-as-india-complete-record-chase-against-west-indies-to-qualify-for-t20-world-cup-semifinal-1772386776664">Social media goes bonkers as India complete record chase to qualify for semis</a>Speaking about his journey, which started in T20I back in 2015 as a 29-year-old, Samson acknowledged: "I've always had a very special journey with lots of ups and downs. I've kept on doubting myself, kept on thinking what if? Can I make it? But I kept on believing and thanks to the Almighty for actually blessing me today, so I'm very happy."<h2>What next for India</h2>With the win, India became the second team from Group 1 to qualify for the semis along with South Africa. The Suryakumar Yadav-led team will now face England in the second semi-final on Thursday (Mar 5) at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. South Africa, meanwhile, will face New Zealand in the first semi on Wednesday (Mar 4) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The winners of the two semis will play the final at the Narendra Modi Stadidum in Amhedabad on Sunday (Mar 8).

While he fell short of hundred by just three runs, he will live in the hearts of fans forever as some 97s are more special than a 100 - remember 2011 ODI World Cup final? He stayed calm and navigated the innings through chase as well before righfully hitting the winning shot.

Sanju Samson's record innings of 97 not out against West Indies on Sunday (Mar 1) a Eden Gardens in Kolkata put India in the semi-final of T20 World Cup 2026 and the batter says he 'never felt doing something special.' The wicketkeeper-batter, who went out of the playing XI just before the World Cup began, rescued India with the innings of his life, shutting up his doubters for good. While he fell short of hundred by just three runs, he will live in the hearts of fans forever as some 97s are more special than a 100 - remember 2011 ODI World Cup final? Samson, who now holds the record for the highest score in a T20 World Cup chase for India, was also awarded Player of the Match for his performance. Sanju reacts to match-winning innigs vs WI in T20 World Cup 2026 Sanju started slowly but held one end firm as India lost a couple of wickets in the powerplay. He stayed calm and navigated the innings through middle overs as well before righfully hitting the winning shot. Speaking after the match, Sanju said: "I never felt that I would do something special like this but I was just focusing on my role. Just keeping one ball at a time and very grateful, I think this is one of the greatest days of my life." Talking about his approach, Samson revealed: I've seen the greatest people finish games and how they change their game according to the game [situation]... As soon as I wanted to go a bit higher, we were losing wickets, so I wanted to build a partnership and wanted to keep on focusing on my process." Also Read - Social media goes bonkers as India complete record chase to qualify for semis Speaking about his journey, which started in T20I back in 2015 as a 29-year-old, Samson acknowledged: "I've always had a very special journey with lots of ups and downs. I've kept on doubting myself, kept on thinking what if? Can I make it? But I kept on believing and thanks to the Almighty for actually blessing me today, so I'm very happy." What next for India With the win, India became the second team from Group 1 to qualify for the semis along with South Africa. The Suryakumar Yadav-led team will now face England in the second semi-final on Thursday (Mar 5) at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. South Africa, meanwhile, will face New Zealand in the first semi on Wednesday (Mar 4) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The winners of the two semis will play the final at the Narendra Modi Stadidum in Amhedabad on Sunday (Mar 8).

While he fell short of hundred by just three runs, he will live in the hearts of fans forever as some 97s are more special than a 100 - remember 2011 ODI World Cup final? He stayed calm and navigated the innings through chase as well before righfully hitting the winning shot.

T20 World Cup 2026 | 'Kept on doubting myself:' Sanju Samson reacts after giving Indian fans another memorable 97 in a World Cup

From Virat Kohli to Ishan Kishan here is a list of five 5 batters with highest individual scores in India-Pakistan T20Is. The list also features current India head coach Gautam Gambhir and Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan with Ishan joining the list after T20 World Cup 2026 clash.

From Virat Kohli to Ishan Kishan here is a list of five 5 batters with highest individual scores in India-Pakistan T20Is. The list also features current India head coach Gautam Gambhir and Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan with Ishan joining the list after T20 World Cup 2026 clash.

From Virat Kohli to Ishan Kishan, 5 batters with highest individual scores in India-Pakistan T20Is

From Yuvraj Singh to Virat Kohli, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most runs against Pakistan in T20 World Cup matches. This list also includes Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir

From Yuvraj Singh to Virat Kohli, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most runs against Pakistan in T20 World Cup matches. This list also includes Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir

Meet top 5 Indian batters with most runs against Pakistan in T20 World Cup matches

From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most T20I runs against Pakistan. This list also includes Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir and Tilak Varma

From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most T20I runs against Pakistan. This list also includes Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir and Tilak Varma

Meet top 5 Indian batters with most T20I runs against Pakistan

India head coach Gautam Gambhir praised Suryakumar Yadav for the way he connects with his teammates, saying the captain has made things much easier for him in T20 cricket. Speaking during India’s T20 World Cup campaign, Gambhir spoke about the strong influence Suryakumar has had on the team through his leadership.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Surya has made my life a lot easier in this format," Gambhir, who has had the most success in T20I cricket as coach, told Star Sports. &nbsp;&nbsp;Gambhir further said that Suryakumar’s batting skills and wide range of shots are already well known, but what truly stands out is his calm nature and how he handles players. According to him, Suryakumar keeps the dressing room relaxed and communicates clearly with everyone. This allows the coach to focus on other aspects of the game, knowing the team environment is in safe hands.&nbsp;&nbsp;"I think he is a phenomenal leader of men – not by what he does on the field, not by the type of batter he is, not by the kind of shots that he plays. All that you can keep aside. But the way he relates to players, the way he talks to players, and how relaxed he is on the field," Gambhir said.&nbsp;"As a coach, you know you can think about other things because he is going to keep the atmosphere pretty calm. Surya the player, I can keep aside, but Surya the leader has ticked every box. It's a great thing when you have someone like him leading the country because his heart is in the right place, and he takes the right decisions for the team" he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-pakistan-at-t20-world-cup-icc-rejects-pcb-3-demands-what-were-those-mohsin-naqvi-icc-pcb-meeting-feb-15-colombo-1770628737051">India vs Pakistan at T20 World Cup: ICC rejects PCB’s ‘3 demands’; what were those?</a>&nbsp;These comments came a day after Suryakumar played a crucial innings against the USA in Mumbai. India were struggling at 77 for six after 13 overs, but Suryakumar held his nerve and scored 84 runs from 49 balls. His knock helped India reach a competitive total of 161 for nine.&nbsp;The pitch at Wankhede was difficult for batting, as the ball was not coming onto the bat easily. Despite this, Suryakumar adjusted well, using his full range of shots and hit 10 fours and four sixes during his innings.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/winter-olympics-trump-slams-skier-hunter-hess-1770631881313">Trump slams Olympic skier Hunter Hess for his 'representing US' stance: 'Just because I’m wearing the flag...'</a>&nbsp;Suryakumar also showed sharp thinking as captain during the match, as he trusted his main bowlers and avoided using part-time options. As a result, India managed to restrict the USA to 132 for eight and secured a win.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Suryakumar-led Indian team reached Delhi on Sunday ahead of their next Group A match against Namibia on Feb 12.

Since taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav has led India in 44 matches, winning 35 of them.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir praised Suryakumar Yadav for the way he connects with his teammates, saying the captain has made things much easier for him in T20 cricket. Speaking during India’s T20 World Cup campaign, Gambhir spoke about the strong influence Suryakumar has had on the team through his leadership. "Surya has made my life a lot easier in this format," Gambhir, who has had the most success in T20I cricket as coach, told Star Sports. Gambhir further said that Suryakumar’s batting skills and wide range of shots are already well known, but what truly stands out is his calm nature and how he handles players. According to him, Suryakumar keeps the dressing room relaxed and communicates clearly with everyone. This allows the coach to focus on other aspects of the game, knowing the team environment is in safe hands. "I think he is a phenomenal leader of men – not by what he does on the field, not by the type of batter he is, not by the kind of shots that he plays. All that you can keep aside. But the way he relates to players, the way he talks to players, and how relaxed he is on the field," Gambhir said. "As a coach, you know you can think about other things because he is going to keep the atmosphere pretty calm. Surya the player, I can keep aside, but Surya the leader has ticked every box. It's a great thing when you have someone like him leading the country because his heart is in the right place, and he takes the right decisions for the team" he added. Also Read - India vs Pakistan at T20 World Cup: ICC rejects PCB’s ‘3 demands’; what were those? These comments came a day after Suryakumar played a crucial innings against the USA in Mumbai. India were struggling at 77 for six after 13 overs, but Suryakumar held his nerve and scored 84 runs from 49 balls. His knock helped India reach a competitive total of 161 for nine. The pitch at Wankhede was difficult for batting, as the ball was not coming onto the bat easily. Despite this, Suryakumar adjusted well, using his full range of shots and hit 10 fours and four sixes during his innings. Also Read - Trump slams Olympic skier Hunter Hess for his 'representing US' stance: 'Just because I’m wearing the flag...' Suryakumar also showed sharp thinking as captain during the match, as he trusted his main bowlers and avoided using part-time options. As a result, India managed to restrict the USA to 132 for eight and secured a win. The Suryakumar-led Indian team reached Delhi on Sunday ahead of their next Group A match against Namibia on Feb 12.

Since taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav has led India in 44 matches, winning 35 of them.

‘Made my life a lot easier’: Gautam Gambhir on Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy

From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most fours in T20 World Cup history. This list also includes Gautam Gambhir, Suryakumar Yadav and Suresh Raina

From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most fours in T20 World Cup history. This list also includes Gautam Gambhir, Suryakumar Yadav and Suresh Raina

Meet top 5 Indian batters with most fours in T20 World Cup history

From Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most runs in T20 World Cup history. This list also includes Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir

From Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most runs in T20 World Cup history. This list also includes Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir

Meet top 5 Indian batters with most runs in T20 World Cup history

India head coach Gautam Gambhir, on Tuesday (Feb 3), refused to give a reaction on Pakistan's boycott of India match on in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. India, entering the tournament as the defending champions, are in Group A along with Pakistan, USA, Netherland, and Namibia. Pakistan are expected to play India on Feb 15 in Colombo in a Group A fixture and failure to do so will see India getting full match points, given skipper Suryakumar Yadav is present at the toss. The boycott can potentially hurt Pakistan's chances to move to the next stage while making it easier for India to advance.<h2>Gambhir gives first reaction on Pakistan boycotting India match in T20 World Cup 2026</h2>India coach Gambhir was spotted at Delhi airport on Tuesday (Feb 3) when the reporters asked him about his thoughts on Pakistan's boycott of India match in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The head coach, while thanking the reporters for their well-wished, refused to answer the Pakistan question. Have a look at the video below:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi: Indian Cricket Team Head Coach Gautam Gambhir leaves for Mumbai. <a href="https://t.co/6fBlclolVO">pic.twitter.com/6fBlclolVO</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2018681998835888267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

While Pakistan has given no official reason for boycotting India match, it is possible that the step has been taken in solidarity with Bangladesh, which have been replaced in the tournament by Scotland. ICC replaced Bangladesh after the Asian country's refusal to travel to India for the World Cup matches, citing security threat.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2026-toss-becomes-crucial-dhoni-shares-what-worries-him-about-1770178247735">T20 World Cup 2026 | 'Toss becomes crucial': Dhoni on what worries him about India's title defence</a>Pakistan had supported Bangladesh's demand of shifting the matches outside India but ICC did not budge. After Bangladesh's replacement, Pakistan left their participation in limbo, confirming only on Sunday (Feb 1) that they will play the tournament but not India.India squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.Pakistan squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.

While Pakistan has given no official reason for boycotting India match, it is possible that the step has been taken in solidarity with Bangladesh, which have been replaced in the tournament by Scotland. Pakistan are expected to play India on Feb 15 in Colombo in a Group A fixture.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir, on Tuesday (Feb 3), refused to give a reaction on Pakistan's boycott of India match on in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. India, entering the tournament as the defending champions, are in Group A along with Pakistan, USA, Netherland, and Namibia. Pakistan are expected to play India on Feb 15 in Colombo in a Group A fixture and failure to do so will see India getting full match points, given skipper Suryakumar Yadav is present at the toss. The boycott can potentially hurt Pakistan's chances to move to the next stage while making it easier for India to advance. Gambhir gives first reaction on Pakistan boycotting India match in T20 World Cup 2026 India coach Gambhir was spotted at Delhi airport on Tuesday (Feb 3) when the reporters asked him about his thoughts on Pakistan's boycott of India match in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The head coach, while thanking the reporters for their well-wished, refused to answer the Pakistan question. Have a look at the video below:

While Pakistan has given no official reason for boycotting India match, it is possible that the step has been taken in solidarity with Bangladesh, which have been replaced in the tournament by Scotland. Pakistan are expected to play India on Feb 15 in Colombo in a Group A fixture.

T20 World Cup 2026 | WATCH - Gambhir reacts to Pakistan boycotting India match on Feb 15

From MS Dhoni to Gautam Gambhir here is a look at five batters with most IPL runs without a hundred. The list also features popular names like Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik and Faf du Plessis. 

From MS Dhoni to Gautam Gambhir here is a look at five batters with most IPL runs without a hundred. The list also features popular names like Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik and Faf du Plessis.&nbsp;

Meet 5 batters with most IPL runs without a hundred ft MS Dhoni

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