Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach began on a high note as the Indian team completed a clean sweep against Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series in Pallekele. The final T20I was a thrilling encounter that went to a Super Over, with India clinching victory in dramatic fashion. Gambhir was full of praise for his players, especially for their resilience when faced with a challenging situation.
Sri Lanka needed just 30 runs from the last five overs with nine wickets in hand, but India’s determination shone through. In a video posted by the BCCI on social media, Gambhir commended the team’s effort and Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership.
Gautam Gambhir said, “Congratulations to the team on a fantastic series win. Special congratulations to Surya [Suryakumar Yadav] for his outstanding captaincy and his contributions with the bat,” Gambhir said. “Before the game, I asked for something special, and the team delivered. It’s a testament to their fighting spirit—never giving up and pushing through every delivery and run. That’s how games like this are won.”
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The pitch for the third T20I was challenging, offering significant grip for the spinners, which made scoring runs difficult. Gautam Gambhir highlighted the need for improvement in adapting to such conditions.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 💙
Head Coach Gautam Gambhir 🤝 Hardik Pandya address the dressing room as the action now shifts to the ODIs in Colombo #TeamIndia | #SLvIND | @GautamGambhir | @hardikpandya7 pic.twitter.com/PFrTEVzdvd
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 31, 2024
“We need to continue improving our skills for different types of pitches. It’s crucial to assess the conditions quickly and determine what constitutes a par score,” he explained. “There’s a lot to learn from this game, but the series win is a great achievement.”
In the third T20I, India managed to post a total of 137/9 after being reduced to 48/5 at one point. Sri Lanka seemed in control during their chase at 108/1 in 15 overs but lost wickets in clusters towards the end, finishing at 137/8.
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In the Super Over, Washington Sundar played a key role, dismissing Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka while conceding just two runs. Suryakumar Yadav then sealed the win for India with a boundary off the first ball. India and Sri Lanka will now turn their attention to a three-match ODI series in Colombo, starting on August 2.
