Gautam Gambhir, the current head coach for the Indian cricket team, has articulated his coaching philosophy and the synergy he shares with captain Suryakumar Yadav. Gambhir stated his role is to provide candid advice to the captain, informed by his strategic understanding of the game. The captain-coach combination of Suryakumar and Gambhir has proven highly successful since Gambhir took over after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory. They have propelled India’s batting tempo to new heights, securing numerous series wins and most recently clinching the Asia Cup title in the UAE. Their next assignment involves a five-match T20I series against Australia, kicking off Wednesday at Manuka Oval.
Gambhir praised Suryakumar’s character, noting, “Good humans make good leaders.” He clarified his contribution to the team dynamic: “my role is simply to advise him fairly based on my reading of the game. Ultimately, this is his team.” He believes Suryakumar’s inherently free-spirited nature is the perfect embodiment of T20 cricket’s core values of freedom and self-expression. “Your off-field personality reflects on the field and in the dressing room, and Surya has maintained this atmosphere brilliantly over the past 1.5 years,” Gambhir remarked.
The coach emphasized that Suryakumar’s captaincy fosters a T20 strategy that prioritizes embracing risks, especially in high-pressure situations. “From our first conversation, we agreed: we will not fear losing,” Gambhir stated emphatically. “I don’t aim to be the most successful coach; I want us to be the most fearless team.” He assured players that mistakes are a natural part of the game, referencing his message during the Asia Cup final that dropping a catch or playing a rash shot is acceptable. “Human beings make mistakes. Only the opinions of those in the dressing room matter,” he insisted. “Surya and I consistently agree: we will never fear mistakes. The bigger the game, the more fearless and aggressive we must be. A conservative approach only gives the opposition an advantage. With the talent we have, if we play fearlessly, we will be fine.”
Gambhir shrugged off concerns about Suryakumar’s recent modest batting performances. “Honestly, Surya’s batting form doesn’t concern me because we have committed to an ultra-aggressive template in our dressing room,” he explained. He acknowledged that this aggressive batting style inherently involves a higher risk of failure. “It would be easy for Surya to score 40 runs off 30 balls and avoid criticism, but we have collectively decided that it’s acceptable to fail while pursuing this approach.” While Abhishek Sharma is currently in excellent form, Gambhir expressed confidence that Suryakumar will soon find his scoring touch. “In T20 cricket, our focus isn’t on individual runs but on the brand of cricket we want to play. With our aggressive style, batters may fail more often, but impact ultimately matters more than mere runs,” he concluded.
