Gautam Gambhir Opens Up On NZ Debacle, Rohit & Virat’s Poor Form & Other Things In Press Conference

As the Indian cricket team prepares for their departure to Perth for the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, Gautam Gambhir addressed the media and spoke on various issues. Only four months into his role as the Indian men’s team coach, Gautam Gambhir has already faced criticism stemming from India’s recent performances, most notably their upset loss to New Zealand earlier this month.

Despite Gautam Gambhir’s proven success with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL, some have questioned his rapid appointment to the national team coaching role given his relative lack of experience in international cricket leadership. This scrutiny has been amplified by the team’s recent setbacks, including a 3-0 series loss to New Zealand that ended India’s long unbeaten streak in home tests and jeopardised their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Gautam Gambhir, however, remains unfazed in his approach, stating that he is not affected by social media, adding that he is not in the heat. He further said that there are tough cricketers in dressing room and it is really an honour to coach them. He emphasised the importance of staying focused amidst criticism and praised the resilience of his team.

The fallout from India’s defeat has not been limited to Gautam Gambhir. Senior players like captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul have also faced backlash from fans. Critics have particularly zeroed in on strategic and tactical missteps during critical moments in recent matches, questioning the team’s ability to adapt under Gambhir’s leadership. While Gambhir’s strategic success in the shorter formats is well-known, his lack of experience in the test arena remains a concern for many.

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy is seen as a pivotal moment for Gambhir’s coaching career. With VVS Laxman reportedly being considered as a potential replacement of Gautam Gambhir if the team’s performance in Australia falters, it seems that the stakes are pretty high. India’s campaign begins on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth, with fans and analysts alike watching closely to see if Gambhir can guide the team to success in one of the most prestigious series of cricket.

When Gautam Gambhir was asked about the chances of India qualifying for the WTC final, he clearly stated that they are not thinking about the WTC final, currently they are focusing on the BGT2024-25 as every series is important. For Gambhir, the focus is on maintaining high standards in each match, especially in a marquee overseas series like this one.

He said that when a player plays for the country and represents his country, every series is important and the past results hold no importance at that moment. For them, it is about two good teams facing each other and they are really eager to go, perform well and win the series.

India’s goal to win four out of five matches against Australia is undoubtedly challenging but Gautam Gambhir’s remarks suggest a strategic mindset of concentrating on immediate tasks rather than becoming distracted by long-term stakes.

The Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir was also asked about the poor form and performance of senior cricketers – skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and he supported both of them completely despite their underwhelming performances in the recent test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. In India’s home series against New Zealand where they suffered a historic 0-3 whitewash, Rohit managed just 91 runs across three matches while Kohli scored a total of 93 runs. The poor returns from two of India’s all-time greats drew heavy criticism from fans and former cricketing legends, leading some to question their future in test cricket on home soil.

Gautam Gambhir remains confident in the abilities and motivation of Rohit and Kohli. Speaking during the pre-departure press conference in Mumbai on November 11, Gambhir highlighted their hunger and determination to contribute significantly to the team and he asked everyone not to doubt their passion for the country.

The journalists also talked about Sanju Samson as the Indian wicketkeeper-batter has attributed his recent T20I success to the clarity provided by India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and the T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav regarding his batting position. Sams.on believes that this clarity has significantly contributed to his preparation and performance on the field.

Samson continued his excellent form in the T20I series against South Africa, smashing a blistering 107 runs from just 50 balls in the series opener at Kingsmead, Durban, on November 8. With this century, Samson became the first Indian player to record back-to-back centuries in T20 internationals, further cementing his place as a key performer in the squad.

Despite Samson’s praise, Gambhir downplayed his own role in the batter’s success and instead highlighted Samson’s inherent talent and hard work. Gambhir said that it has nothing to do with him as it is all about Samson’s ability and he just needed the right number and support.

He expressed confidence in Samson’s potential and stated that the recent performances are only the beginning of what he can achieve for Indian cricket. Gautam Gambhir added that what Sanju Samson is doing for Indian cricket is just the start and hopefully he will continue in the same manner.

What do you think of the statements made by Gautam Gambhir in the press conference?

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