Head coach Gautam Gambhir has revealed insights into his leadership approach alongside captain Suryakumar Yadav, highlighting the skipper’s ideal fit for T20 cricket’s dynamic nature. Gambhir described his function as providing equitable guidance to Suryakumar, grounded in his game analysis. The pairing has been instrumental in India’s elevated batting aggression and consistent success since the 2024 T20 World Cup, culminating in the recent T20 Asia Cup triumph in the UAE. They are now preparing for a five-match T20I series in Australia.
“Surya is a great human being, and good humans make good leaders,” Gambhir stated, praising Suryakumar’s character. He further elaborated on their professional relationship: “My role is simply to advise him fairly based on my reading of the game. Ultimately, this is his team.” Gambhir believes Suryakumar’s vibrant personality resonates with the core principles of T20 cricket—freedom and self-expression—and has fostered a positive environment within the squad for the past 1.5 years.
The coach emphasized a strategic directive to embrace risk-taking, particularly under pressure. “From our first conversation, we agreed: we will not fear losing,” Gambhir asserted. “I don’t aim to be the most successful coach; I want us to be the most fearless team.” This mantra encourages players to play with conviction, accepting that mistakes are part of the process, whether it’s a dropped catch or a misplaced shot, especially in high-stakes encounters.
Gambhir is not overly concerned about Suryakumar Yadav’s recent dip in batting form during the Asia Cup. He attributes this to the team’s unwavering commitment to an ‘ultra-aggressive template,’ acknowledging that such an approach naturally invites occasional failures. “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,” he explained. Gambhir noted the current strong form of Abhishek Sharma and expressed confidence in Suryakumar’s ability to rediscover his scoring touch. He concluded by stressing that the team’s primary focus in T20s is on the ‘brand of cricket’ they play, prioritizing aggressive intent and match-impact over individual statistical achievements.
