The Indian cricket team embarked on a fresh chapter with the appointment of head coach Gautam Gambhir and T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav. The squad was out in Kandy, Sri Lanka, for its first training session ahead of their series against Charith Asalanka’s Sri Lankan team. The Indian team arrived in Sri Lanka on July 22 and had already started preparing for their first T20I on July 27, with very little time for a break.
The T20I squad, to be led by Suryakumar Yadav, arrived in Sri Lanka, accompanied by stars Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill, to begin the series. The T20I matches will be followed by the ODI series starting on August 2 and will go on till August 7. The ODIs will be played out at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. It is understood that the Indian regulars in ODIs, like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, will join the squad in Sri Lanka later.
ALSO READ: Rahul Dravid Set To Return To IPL 2025 As Rajasthan Royals Head Coach
In training videos, Gambhir can be seen discussing with his coaching staff and players,, including Sanju Samson. Addressing the team while in a huddle, both Gambhir and Yadav spoke, but it was Gambhir who hogged the centrestage with a detailed, animated conversation.
๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฏ๐ต๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ! ๐ช#TeamIndia | #SLvIND | @GautamGambhir pic.twitter.com/sbG7VLfXGc
โ BCCI (@BCCI) July 23, 2024
ย
The calm before the storm ๐ช๏ธ๐ฅ#SonySportsNetwork #SLvIND #TeamIndia #RinkuSingh | @rinkusingh235 pic.twitter.com/sI7teK1QHb
โ Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 23, 2024
ย
The newly appointed head coach has handed out his vision for the Indian men’s team – culling out the importance for a healthy team environment. He hopes to capitalize in the win inspired by India’s success in the 2024 T20 World Cup held recently between the Caribbean and the United States.
The new coach is ready ๐คฉ๐ฎ๐ณ#SonySportsNetwork #SLvIND #TeamIndia | @GautamGambhir pic.twitter.com/YFESCntXyz
โ Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 23, 2024
ย
Now watching: #TeamIndia‘s new T20I captain ๐ฎ๐ณ๐
Go well, Surya Dada ๐#SonySportsNetwork #SLvIND | @surya_14kumar pic.twitter.com/aXSic8Z4PS
โ Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 23, 2024
ย
Before heading for Sri Lanka, Gambhir, with Ajit Agarkar, chairman of selectors, attended a conference for a briefing on what was expected of the duo and in extension, his team. Gambhir has placed special emphasis on creating harmony among the team members.
“I have always said that a happy dressing room is a winning dressing room. That’s my responsibility. For me, I don’t complicate too many things. I am taking over a very, very successful team. T20 World champions, runner-up in the World Test Championship, and the 50-over World Cup. There are issues to fill but this is a champions’ team,” Gautam Gambhir said.
ALSO READ: Axar Patel Reveals The Support He Got From His Wife During T20 World Cup
Starting July 27, India’s tour of Sri Lanka will kick off with the first T20I at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The team is all set, as the new leadership dynamic is only looking to build upon the momentum that it has gained at this point in time and tighten its grip even more firmly in the realm of international cricket.
