IND vs BAN: Gautam Gambhir wants Team India to adopt one style of playing

Gambhir has taken over from Rahul Dravid at a time when the team is gradually embracing a transition phase, and in that context, he wanted the team to follow a result-oriented approach.

Gautam Gambhir, Gautam
Mumbai: Indian men's cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir during a press conference ahead of the team's Sri Lanka tour, in Mumbai, Monday, July 22, 2024. (Photo: PTI)
Press Trust of India Chennai
3 min read Last Updated : Sep 19 2024 | 8:46 AM IST

Head coach Gautam Gambhir wants the Indian team to remain flexible in its strategies instead of pursuing a one-sided approach or getting caught in external factors such as nature of pitch, saying it can hinder its growth as a unit.

Gambhir has taken over from Rahul Dravid at a time when the team is gradually embracing a transition phase, and in that context, he wanted the team to follow a result-oriented approach.

India vs Bangladesh 1st Test Day 1 LIVE SCORE UPDATES AND FULL SCORECARD

Check India vs Bangladesh 1st Test Playing 11, live toss updates here

"I've always been a believer that the best style is a style that wins. We want to be a team that adapts and one that learns quickly rather than adopting one style. If you start adopting one style then there is no growth," Gambhir said at the pre-match press conference here on Wednesday.

The former India opener wanted his wards to be proactive to a situation rather than reactive.

"We want guys to be playing the situation, the conditions and then keep growing. You know all this giving a name to a certain style is like playing only one way.

"So, attempting it's all about results and giving the best as I just mentioned, the best style is the style that works," he noted.

Gambhir plays down pitch talk

Gambhir has always been an advocate of taking advantage of home conditions, and, once again, he pressed forward his thoughts, saying India banking on their home advantage should not be treated differently from other cricketing nations.

"The thing is when you go to places like Australia, England, South Africa, the Test gets over in two and a half days, then there is not so much talk.

"But when the opposition team comes to India and if the Test match gets over in two and a half days, we keep saying that there is too much help for the spinners, he argued.

Gambhir said it is impossible to prepare a pitch with a guarantee on the days a Test match would last.

"If there is too much help for the fast bowler, then no one talks about it. So, I think we have to be fair and clear on that front. I don't think anywhere in the world where you can prepare a wicket where you say that this Test will go on for five days.

The 42-year-old said the skill level of players to play in all conditions matters more than the nature of the 22-yard strip.

"You got to have quality if you need a good Test. But you should be able to play against spin on a turning track and you should be able to play good fast bowling on a green track.

"So, I think this conversation or debate should end where people say that in India, when Test matches get over in two and a half days, it's too much support for spinners.

"The opposition needs to learn how to play against spinners rather than talk about changing the nature of the pitch," he detailed.


(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

Topics :India vs BangladeshIndia cricket teamBangladesh cricket teamTest Cricket

First Published: Sep 19 2024 | 8:16 AM IST

Next Story