India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, candidly acknowledged the impact of the explosive nature of T20 cricket on players’ defensive techniques in the Test format. His remarks surfaced following the challenges faced by Indian batters against New Zealand in the initial Tests of their current series. Earlier, the Indian batting lineup also faltered against Sri Lanka during the ODI series in August, where the Lankan spinners collectively claimed an impressive total of 21 wickets. Subsequently, India suffered a defeat in the series, ending with a 0-2 record, alongside one match that concluded in a tie.
In the first Test against New Zealand, Indian batters found themselves outclassed by the impressive pace attack of Matt Henry and William O’Rourke in Bengaluru. This was exacerbated by the exceptional performance of Mitchell Santner, who wreaked havoc on the Indian batting order, taking a staggering 13 wickets in the Pune Test, including two five-wicket hauls.
The loss against Sri Lanka not only marked India’s first defeat in a bilateral ODI series since 1997 but also allowed New Zealand to achieve their first-ever series victory on Indian soil last week. Faced with an already lost series standing at 0-2, Rohit Sharma and his team are gearing up to change their fortunes in the upcoming third and final ODI in Mumbai, with eyes fixed on the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Although India currently stands atop the WTC table, the team understands the necessity of winning four out of their remaining five Test matches to secure their place in the third consecutive final. Following the crucial Mumbai Test, India will undertake an extensive journey to Australia for a five-match Test series as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Gambhir articulated his vision of a ‘complete cricketer’ as one who excels across all formats. He remarked, “Sometimes you’re so used to muscling the ball that you end up forgetting the soft hands which probably used to happen eight or 10 years back.” He emphasized that true growth in cricket encompasses more than just muscle power; it involves mastering techniques suited for various conditions, such as batting on turning tracks, which often requires a more strategic approach to run accumulation rather than aiming for lofty sixes.
Future is at risk for a lot of teams: Gambhir
The former opener expressed concerns regarding the broader implications for cricket, stating that the future could be jeopardized for many teams. He warned, “But you will see probably going forward in future, we’ll have the same issues with a lot of other teams as well because the more the T20 cricket is played, the lesser people will start defending,” he added, highlighting a concerning trend in the evolving landscape of the sport.
The highly anticipated third Test between India and New Zealand is set to commence on November 1 at the prestigious Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
**Interview with Gautam Gambhir, Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Gautam. Following the recent Test series against New Zealand, you’ve highlighted the challenges players face with the shift from T20 to Test cricket. Can you elaborate on how T20 influences defensive techniques in longer formats?
**Gautam Gambhir:** Absolutely, it’s a crucial point. T20 cricket is all about aggression and scoring quickly, which can sometimes lead players to neglect their defensive skills. In Tests, patience and technique are paramount, and that’s where we’ve seen some of our batters struggle against a quality pace attack like New Zealand’s. The shorter format places less emphasis on grinding out runs and playing through tough spells, which is essential in Test cricket.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of challenges, the Indian batting lineup seemed to falter against both New Zealand in the Tests and Sri Lanka in the ODIs. What do you think contributed to these disappointing performances?
**Gautam Gambhir:** Our batters faced some tough bowling attacks; Matt Henry and William O’Rourke really put us under pressure in the first Test. Plus, Mitchell Santner’s performance with those 13 wickets in Pune was exceptional. Against Sri Lanka, we faced difficulties against their spinners, who took a staggering 21 wickets in the series. It reflects a need for adaptation, especially for our players transitioning from different formats.
**Interviewer:** With India’s recent losses, including the defeat in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, what steps are you planning to take to address these issues?
**Gautam Gambhir:** It’s about going back to the fundamentals. We need to focus on building our defensive techniques and resilience in the longer formats. We’ll be spending more time in practice, simulating game situations to reinforce these aspects. Mental conditioning is also key; players need to switch their mindset between formats effectively.
**Interviewer:** Reflecting on the broader implications, how do you view the significance of this period for Indian cricket?
**Gautam Gambhir:** Every series, whether we win or lose, teaches us something valuable. It’s a moment to reflect, rebuild, and refocus. It’s important for us to capitalize on our learnings from these challenging experiences to improve moving forward. I believe this will ultimately strengthen our team in the long run.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Gautam. We appreciate your insights and wish you and the team the best of luck in your upcoming matches.
**Gautam Gambhir:** Thank you for having me.