India’s new vice-captain in ODIs and T20Is, Shubman Gill, praised newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir for his clear intent and effective communication as India gears up for the T20I series against Sri Lanka. The series, consisting of three matches, will kick off on Saturday, July 27, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.
Gill shared insights from his initial practice sessions with Gambhir, who recently took over the coaching reins from Rahul Dravid. Highlighting Gambhir’s game sense and clarity, Gill noted the coach’s precise communication and strategic intent. “We have had just two net sessions together, and this is the first time I am working with him. But whatever he has told me during these two sessions, his intent and communication have been very clear – he knows what he wants from which player, and what he thinks will work for each player,” Gill remarked during a pre-series press conference.
Gill, who made his captaincy debut in a successful five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe where India triumphed 4-1, praised Gambhir’s approach. The opening batsman himself shone with scores of 66 (49) and 58* (39) in the third and fourth T20Is respectively. Despite this, Gill faced criticism for his decision to demote Abhishek Sharma down the order following Sharma’s impressive century, choosing to open the innings himself.
Further emphasizing the cohesive team dynamic, Gill mentioned the alignment between Gambhir and the new T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav. “I think the line of thinking and mindset (of Suryakumar and Gambhir) are on the same page. I had played under Surya Bhai in South Africa too. Their understanding is similar and I think you’ll get to see the effects on the field as well,” Gill added.
Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as India’s new T20I captain, succeeding Hardik Pandya who was initially the frontrunner for the position following Rohit Sharma’s retirement. However, concerns over Pandya’s fitness led the team management to choose Suryakumar instead.
As the team prepares for the upcoming series, the positive synergy between the players and the coaching staff, led by Gambhir and Yadav, is expected to yield promising results on the field.