Latest news with #Gambhir
First Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
What Are Gambhir And Gill's Challenges Before England Series? First Sports With Rupha Ramani
What Are Gambhir And Gill's Challenges Before England Series? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani |N18G What Are Gambhir And Gill's Challenges Before England Series? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani |N18G The Indian men's cricket team is preparing for a gruelling Test series against England, with a young, relatively inexperienced squad and a new captain at the helm. Head coach Gautam Gambhir is under pressure to turn things around following recent series losses to Australia and New Zealand. With no Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, or R. Ashwin on the side, the focus is on rising stars like KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Karun Nair to step up. Rupha Ramani looks at India's closed-door preparations, the challenges of adapting to English conditions, and the bold selection calls Gambhir may be forced to make. The practice session also reveals Gambhir isn't going to just wait around. He reportedly schooled Yashasvi Jaiswal and is taking harsh calls to get back to winning ways. Can India start the new WTC cycle on a strong note? Or will the absence of experience prove costly? See More
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Shubman Gill told 'there are no expectations' from Team India, draws MS Dhoni parallel before 1st Test vs England
Team India is currently undergoing a significant transition, marked by the Test retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma last month. Since being appointed head coach following India's T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, Gautam Gambhir has emerged as a commanding figure in the dressing room. Known for his fierce persona and no-nonsense approach, Gambhir's leadership style has been evident, from bold selections to sharp, undiplomatic responses in press conferences. In the wake of Kohli and Rohit's exits, speculation swirled around whether it was the team management, possibly led by Gambhir, that communicated to the legendary duo that their inconsistent form no longer guaranteed a place in the side. While the exact trigger behind their retirement remains unclear, there is little doubt that Gambhir now wields considerable influence over the team's direction. With Shubman Gill stepping into the role of Test captain, many believe the team now bears Gambhir's imprint, that this is, in essence, his team. However, former Indian cricketer WV Raman offered a different perspective. Raman believes it is unfair to single out Gambhir, stressing that the captain has the ultimate responsibility. 'It's not all about the coach all the time. Yes, we all know Gambhir is a good tactician. He's also a very intense man. And he's also got the best interest of the team at heart. So, we got to try and forget the fact that everything should be related to the coach. We didn't do this with his predecessors. We are doing it with him, if you remember,' Raman told The Times of India. 'So, coach is always somebody who's got to stay in the background. We should allow the coach to do his job. And he's going to take all the decisions based on how he sees things. Because he's the one who is completely aware of what is exactly happening with each and every individual in the side. And then as far as this team is concerned, this will always be a team under the title of a captain who is successful.' Raman also believes that the current transition period in the Indian team mirrors the time when MS Dhoni took over the captaincy before the 2007 T20 World Cup. Dhoni, a first-time captain, led a young team to title victory at the time, which kickstarted a golden era in Indian cricket. 'As far as this particular team is concerned, even though there's a lot of apprehension about how the series will pan out, I for one think this team is in the same situation as Dhoni's team when they embarked on the first T20 World Cup. There are no expectations. So, that is a big advantage for this side. That's a real big advantage for this side. And they have everything to gain. The only way is up,' said Raman. 'And I think therein lies this team to spring a surprise. Because let's not forget that even though India has not won many series in England, we've always sprung a lot of surprises there. Starting from Chandra's (Bhagwath Chandrasekhar) spell and Ajit Wadekar's series win in 1971, India has sprung a surprise or two always in England.'
India Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
ENG vs IND: Coach Gautam Gambhir joins India squad in Leeds ahead of first Test
India's preparations for the upcoming five-match Test series against England have received a timely boost, with head coach Gautam Gambhir rejoining the squad in Leeds. Gambhir was back at Headingley on June 18, overseeing the team's training sessions alongside his coaching staff as they gear up for the series opener beginning June had returned to India on June 11 following a medical emergency involving his mother, who had been hospitalised after a heart attack. As a result, he missed the team's three-day warm-up fixture in Beckenham, which featured both the senior Test squad and the India A contingent. His mother's condition has since improved, allowing the coach to reunite with the team just two days before the first his absence, the training responsibilities were handled by assistant coaches Ryan ten Doeschate and Sitanshu Kotak, with bowling coach Morne Morkel also playing a key role. They were given added support by India A coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar and VVS Laxman, who was also in England as part of the A team's setup. This series will mark the beginning of India's World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 campaign, and expectations are high from the new leadership duo—head coach Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill. The team will be looking to bounce back after recent disappointments, including a home series loss to New Zealand and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy defeat against their strong 4-1 Test series win over England earlier this year at home, the upcoming away challenge presents a different test altogether. Both sides will be keen to make a strong start to the new WTC cycle, adding further weight to the Leeds opener.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Gautam Gambhir leaves for England to rejoin Team India ahead of 1st Test
Just days after rushing home to New Delhi due to a family emergency, Gautam Gambhir has reportedly flown back to England, where India will kickstart their World Test Championship campaign on June 20 with a five-Test series. The 42-year-old had to leave the team camp in Beckenham after his mother, Seema, suffered a cardiac arrest on June 11. While she remained under observation in the ICU on June 16, doctors have reportedly declared her out of danger. With her condition stabilising, Gambhir decided to return to England on Tuesday (June 17) to rejoin the Indian squad, who are currently preparing for the opening Test at Headingley. According to Cricbuzz, Gambhir left for London on Tuesday. The series marks a new chapter in Indian Test cricket, with Shubman Gill leading a side that is missing some of the most iconic names in the country's red-ball history. The retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, alongside the absence of pace spearhead Mohammed Shami due to injury, have triggered a generational shift. In such a moment of transition, Gambhir's presence in the dressing room remains invaluable. Though he missed India's only tour game, a three-day intra-squad fixture in Beckenham overseen by assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, and bowling coach Morne Morkel, Gambhir's presence in the dressing room ahead of the series opener will be vital. The former India opener has been at the helm of the transition in the red-ball format. The first Test of the newly instituted Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy begins June 20 at Headingley, followed by matches at Edgbaston, Lord's, Old Trafford, and The Oval. India will aim to end an 18-year wait for a Test series win in England; Rahul Dravid, the Indian head coach before Gambhir, was the captain of the last side to win a red-ball series on English soil. In India's previous tour to England, a Virat Kohli-led team took a 2-1 lead after four matches in the series before the tour was cut short due to Covid-19 outbreak. The postponed match was eventually played a year later, where Ben Stokes-led English team defeated Team India, then led by Jasprit Bumrah, to equal the scoreline.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
IND vs ENG: Bumrah explains why he didn't take India's Test captaincy
The Indian cricket team is all set to start their five-match Test series against England at Leeds, Headingley, starting June 20. The Test series will also be the first time when India's new red-ball skipper, Shubman Gill, will take the field as the new leader of the team. But before that, star Indian pacer and former vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah spoke to Sky Sports on Tuesday, where he discussed his decision to skip India's red-ball captaincy role. While many speculated on why he wasn't named captain despite leading India to a win in Perth and being considered a natural leader, Bumrah clarified that the move was entirely his own. According to him, he had communicated to the BCCI during the IPL that his body might not be able to sustain the demands of captaining across five Tests. Citing advice from medical staff and personal introspection, Bumrah said it wouldn't have been fair to the team to have a split captaincy during such a crucial series. His focus, he stressed, was on longevity and contributing fully as a player. Bumrah on managing workload with intent Bumrah said that while his body is in good shape post a hectic IPL, he has been training carefully to adjust to the rigours of Test cricket. Transitioning from T20 to red-ball cricket is workload-driven, he said, noting how the team gradually increased overs during warm-ups and intra-squad games. On the question of whether he'll bowl shorter spells this series, he was non-committal but acknowledged the importance of being smart. 'I'm not getting younger, and I want to continue playing all three formats,' he said. Bumrah on Gambhir's influence Bumrah also shed light on the role of Gautam Gambhir, who recently took over as head coach. He described Gambhir as someone who offers tactical inputs through one-on-one chats rather than team-wide instructions. In a transitioning squad, Bumrah said Gambhir's calm and composed style is proving valuable.
