After Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s memorable performances in their final ODI outing in Australia, Team India is now gearing up for the T20I leg of the tour — a five-match series starting October 29 in Canberra. With the T20 World Cup set to be hosted in India next year, these matches will play a vital role in shaping the squad’s strategy and identifying the right balance of youth and experience.
As the team prepares for the opening T20I, head coach Gautam Gambhir sheds light on his leadership approach and his dynamic partnership with captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Speaking to JioStar, Gautam Gambhir said, “Surya is a wonderful human being, and good humans make good leaders. He often praises me, but my job is simple — to advise him based on my reading of the game. This is his team, and his free-spirited nature mirrors the essence of T20 cricket — freedom and fearless expression. The energy he carries off the field reflects in how the team performs on it.”
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Gautam Gambhir also revealed that his and Suryakumar’s shared philosophy revolves around removing the fear of failure.
“From our first discussion, we agreed on one principle: we will not fear losing. I don’t aim to be the most successful coach; I want us to be the most fearless team. In big matches like the Asia Cup final, I told the players that mistakes — dropped catches, mis-hits, poor balls — are part of being human. What matters most are the opinions of those inside the dressing room. The bigger the stage, the more fearless we must be. Playing safe only gives our opponents an edge,” he said.
While Suryakumar Yadav’s recent form has drawn scrutiny, Gautam Gambhir expressed complete faith in his captain.
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“We’ve committed to an ultra-aggressive template. It would be easy for Surya to score a safe 40 off 30 balls and avoid criticism, but that’s not our goal. We’ve agreed it’s fine to fail while pushing our boundaries. Right now, Abhishek Sharma is in great touch and setting the tone for our approach. Once Surya finds his rhythm, he’ll lead from the front again. In T20 cricket, it’s not about individual numbers — it’s about impact, intensity, and intent.”
