Cricket

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer and current head coach of Team India, has often been perceived as arrogant due to his intense desire to win. However, his childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, believes this perception is a misunderstanding.Bharadwaj, who has known Gambhir for over three decades, describes him as a "kid" with an innocent and pure heart. He emphasizes that Gambhir's competitive spirit and determination to succeed are often mistaken for arrogance."People think he is arrogant, but that is his attitude towards winning," Bharadwaj said. "He has always been a fierce competitor, even as a young boy. He would cry after losing matches because he hated defeat."Bharadwaj credits Gambhir for his unwavering commitment to developing young players. He cites the example of pacer Navdeep Saini, who was given a chance in the Indian team thanks to Gambhir's insistence."Gambhir is not just about winning," Bharadwaj said. "He is also about shaping the careers of young players. He is polite and has a good heart."As Team India head coach, Gambhir has focused on developing the team's tactical approach. He has been praised for his innovative strategies, such as handing the ball to Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav in the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka."Gambhir is not a technical coach," Bharadwaj said. "He is a tactical coach. His job is to boost morale and inject confidence into players who may not be sure of themselves."Bharadwaj believes that Gambhir's passion for winning and his commitment to developing young players make him an ideal coach for Team India. He is confident that Gambhir will lead the team to success in the upcoming tournaments.

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as India's head coach commenced with a resounding 3-0 series victory over Sri Lanka in the recently concluded Twenty20 International (T20I) series. The Men in Blue, led by newly appointed skipper Suryakumar Yadav, displayed resilience and determination throughout the series, culminating in a thrilling Super Over win in the third and final T20I.Gambhir, who succeeded Rahul Dravid as head coach, has been entrusted with a long-term contract that extends until the end of 2027. His appointment was met with mixed reactions, with some questioning his suitability for the role. However, Gambhir has quickly silenced his critics with a series win in his first assignment.In the post-match dressing room chat, Gambhir lauded Suryakumar's leadership and the team's fighting spirit. He emphasized the importance of consistency and improvement, particularly on pitches that favor spin bowling."Congratulations on a great series win. Congratulations to Surya as well, outstanding captaincy and performance with the bat. I asked for something before the start of the game, and you absolutely delivered it. This is what happens when you keep fighting and don't give up," Gambhir said."These kinds of games happen, and the only way these key games can go in our favor is when we keep fighting for every delivery and every run, and this was a prime example," he added.Gambhir's appointment has sparked a renewed sense of optimism within the Indian cricket fraternity. His experience as a player and his reputation as a tough taskmaster are expected to benefit the team in the long run.However, former India cricketer Joginder Sharma has expressed concerns about Gambhir's longevity as head coach. Sharma believes that Gambhir's uncompromising nature and tendency to make bold decisions may lead to conflicts within the team."Gautam Gambhir is the one to manage the team, but I believe that Gautam Gambhir will not be able to stay for a long time," Sharma said. "This is because Gautam Gambhir has his own decisions. It might happen that he has a disagreement with a player. I am not talking about Virat Kohli. Many times, Gautam Gambhir's decisions are such that others do not like them."Despite these concerns, Gambhir has made a positive start to his tenure as head coach. The team's performance in the Sri Lanka series suggests that they are responding well to his leadership. Only time will tell whether Gambhir can sustain this momentum and guide India to success in major tournaments.

Team India's emphatic 3-0 T20 series sweep against Sri Lanka marked a significant milestone under the leadership of new head coach Gautam Gambhir. The victory was not only a testament to the team's talent but also highlighted a crucial change in team dynamics.Suryakumar Yadav, who captained the side in the absence of Rohit Sharma, revealed that since the T20 World Cup, the players have been instructed to refrain from forming smaller groups and instead sit together as a team. This initiative, according to Yadav, has fostered a stronger bond among the players, which has translated into improved performances on the field."We don't sit together as a team only when we win a game or a series. This trend started during the World Cup, where no matter the result or performance in the game, we used to sit together. We decided that we wouldn't sit in groups of 2 or 3 people but always sit together as a team. The same thing happened during this series. This leads to better bonding between the players and reflects on the ground. It also builds that friendship and ability to stand in support of a fellow member of the team," Yadav explained.However, former India cricketers Ajay Jadeja and Ashish Nehra expressed surprise at Yadav's revelation. Jadeja emphasized that team bonding should occur naturally within a team environment rather than being enforced as a change."That is what you expect in a team sport. I'm just surprised that players are talking about this even today and it has been rather a change in the team that players won't sit in small groups. I don't know, did you not all sit together in previous teams? But again, the captain mentioned that he brought this change, although this is old," Jadeja said.Nehra echoed Jadeja's sentiments, questioning why the management had not implemented this practice earlier. "Didn't he say that this change happened during the World Cup? That happened only a month back. I'm not doubting him, but I'm rather surprised that this has only started now," Nehra remarked.Despite the contrasting views on the team bonding initiative, India's dominant performance against Sri Lanka suggests that it has had a positive impact on the team's cohesion and unity. The team will now turn their attention to the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, where they will aim to continue their winning ways.

Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir Bury the Hatchet, Unite for Team India's SuccessThe recent training session of the Indian cricket team in Colombo has sparked optimism among fans and the cricket fraternity. Former captain Virat Kohli and new head coach Gautam Gambhir were seen engaging in a friendly conversation, signaling a positive shift in their relationship.Kohli, who recently joined the ODI squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, was observed having a lengthy chat with Gambhir. The laughter shared between the two former teammates suggested that they have put their past differences aside and are committed to working together for the success of Team India.The images of their interaction were widely circulated on social media, including by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise, which Kohli represents. The RCB's caption read, "Our seasoned right-arm quick convincing the gaffer to give him the new ball."The Rajasthan Royals also shared the images, commenting, "Can't unsee it." The International Cricket Council joined in on Instagram, captioning a photo of Gambhir laughing with, "Why is Gautam Gambhir going?" followed by a laughing emoji.Kohli's return to the team marks his first appearance since announcing his retirement from T20Is following India's triumph at the T20 World Cup. Rohit Sharma, who also took a break after the tournament, has rejoined the squad.Interestingly, Gambhir had initially urged the senior players to make themselves available for the ODI series in Sri Lanka, despite reports suggesting they might not participate. Both Kohli and Rohit were subsequently named in the squad.Before the ODIs, the Indian team led by Suryakumar Yadav defeated Sri Lanka 3-0 in the T20Is. Yadav was appointed as India's T20I captain after the T20 World Cup.The positive atmosphere within the team and the reconciliation between Kohli and Gambhir have raised hopes for a successful ODI series against Sri Lanka. The team's unity and determination will be crucial as they aim to continue their winning streak and maintain their dominance in the sport.

India's triumphant return from the T20 World Cup 2024 was a memorable occasion, but it was also a sleepless one for the team and accompanying journalists.After a grueling tournament and a delayed departure due to a hurricane, the Indian team finally boarded a 16-hour flight from Barbados to Delhi. However, the flight was far from restful.According to a producer on the flight, no player slept for more than six hours. The atmosphere was lively, with players mingling with journalists and Star Sports engineers who had been stranded on the island.Even head coach Rahul Dravid was unable to find a comfortable spot to sleep. He reportedly moved to the economy section in search of a four-seater, where he managed to catch some shut-eye.Rohit Sharma, known for his jovial nature, was overheard jokingly scolding someone during the flight. Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant also engaged in conversations with the media.The constant chatter and excitement made it difficult for anyone to get a good night's sleep. The producer recalled, "I remember I was sleeping and I could suddenly hear Rohit scolding somebody. I saw and he was standing right there. But Rohit, in his style, was scolding jokingly."Despite the lack of sleep, the Indian team arrived home to a hero's welcome. Their victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 marked a significant milestone for Indian cricket, ending a decade-long drought in ICC events.

Team India's ODI captain Rohit Sharma is gearing up for the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka, set to commence on August 2. Sharma has been diligently practicing in the nets, honing his batting skills, as evident from the photographs he shared on social media.The Indian team's tour of Sri Lanka commenced on July 27 with the Twenty20 International (T20I) series. India made a strong start, winning the first T20I by 43 runs. The subsequent T20I saw India clinch a victory by seven wickets in a rain-shortened match. The T20I matches were hosted at the Pallekele International Stadium, while the ODI series will take place at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, with matches scheduled for August 2, August 4, and August 7.Sharma's return to the Indian squad marks his first appearance since leading the team to victory in the ICC T20 World Cup. In the tournament, Sharma played a pivotal role, amassing 257 runs across eight games, with an average of 36.71 and a strike rate exceeding 156. His highest score was 92, and he hit three half-centuries, making him the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament.Sharma's last ODI appearance was during the ICC Cricket World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad in November last year, which resulted in a loss for India. Currently, Sharma is on the cusp of achieving significant milestones in his ODI career. He is 291 runs short of joining the elite group of Indian cricketers with over 11,000 ODI runs. Furthermore, he requires just 60 more runs to surpass former Indian batter and head coach Rahul Dravid as the fourth-highest run-scorer for India in ODIs. To date, Sharma has played 262 matches, scoring 10,709 runs at an average of 49.12. His record includes 31 centuries and 55 fifties, with a highest score of 264.

Team India's newly appointed T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has been excluded from the ODI squad, as confirmed by BCCI selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar. Agarkar stated that Yadav's name was not considered for the ODI team due to the return of KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant.Despite being part of India's 2023 ODI World Cup squad, Yadav's position in the ODI pecking order has diminished. Former India batter Aakash Chopra predicts that Yadav will also miss out on the Champions Trophy next year, as he is not included in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.Chopra believes that Yadav's exclusion from the ODI team indicates that he is currently not being considered for the 50-over format. He suggests that Yadav's focus will be solely on T20Is.In contrast, Chopra expects Shubman Gill to be a part of India's Champions Trophy team, given his appointment as ODI vice-captain. Agarkar has praised Gill's three-format potential and his leadership qualities, which were evident during his captaincy in the IPL and against Zimbabwe.The BCCI's decision to exclude Yadav from the ODI team has sparked discussions about the future of the Indian ODI squad. With the likes of Rahul, Iyer, and Pant returning, the competition for places in the middle order has intensified. It remains to be seen whether Yadav can regain his place in the ODI team or if he will continue to focus on T20Is.

India's cricket team, led by captain Rohit Sharma and star batsman Virat Kohli, will commence training on Monday in Colombo for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, which begins on August 2. The Indian contingent, including Rohit, Kohli, and newcomer Harshit Rana, arrived in Colombo on Sunday after the T20I team, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, played the final T20I in Pallekele on Tuesday.Rohit, Kohli, and Kuldeep Yadav will return to action after nearly a month since their pivotal roles in India's triumph at the T20 World Cup held in the Americas, marking India's second victory in the tournament. The ODI series against Sri Lanka will also witness the return of Shreyas Iyer to the national squad, who last played a limited-overs match for India against South Africa in December 2023.Joining the team is Delhi all-rounder Harshit Rana, who was part of the IPL-winning Kolkata Knight Riders squad earlier this year. The players will train under the supervision of India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar in Colombo, as per a PTI report.The three ODIs will be held at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The first match is scheduled for August 2, followed by the second and third matches on August 4 and 7, respectively.

India's triumph at the T20 World Cup in Barbados on June 29, 2024, marked a historic moment for the nation. One month later, the euphoria surrounding the victory continues to reverberate online, as fans celebrate the team's remarkable achievement.In the thrilling final against South Africa, India's batting duo of Virat Kohli (76 off 59) and Axar Patel (47 off 31) set the stage with a formidable total of 176 for 7. South Africa's chase seemed promising, with Heinrich Klaasen's blistering half-century bringing them within striking distance.However, Hardik Pandya's inspiring second spell proved decisive. He dismissed Klaasen (52 off 27) and David Miller (21 off 17), turning the tide in India's favor. Suryakumar Yadav's incredible catch at the boundary further cemented India's dominance.Pandya's three wickets, along with Jasprit Bumrah's (2 for 18) and Arshdeep Singh's (2 for 20) contributions, kept the pressure on South Africa in the dying stages. India's victory marked the end of an 11-year wait for an ICC title since the Champions Trophy in 2013. It also brought to a close Rahul Dravid's tenure as head coach, with Gautam Gambhir taking over the reins.The victory parade in Mumbai was a testament to the team's popularity, with lakhs of fans lining the streets to celebrate. The felicitation ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium capped off a memorable day for the champions.One month after the historic win, the joy among Indian fans remains palpable. Social media platforms are abuzz with posts expressing gratitude and admiration for the team's performance. The victory has not only brought glory to India but has also inspired a new generation of cricket enthusiasts.