India head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed high praise for his team following their impressive 3-2 T20I series victory against New Zealand. Gambhir highlighted the squad’s collective determination, particularly noting their clinical performance in the opening three matches that effectively secured the series win early. This achievement holds extra weight given the grueling travel and playing schedule the side has navigated in recent months. As India wrapped up the victory at the earliest possible opportunity, more crucially he was pointing towards their efforts in the first three fixtures. It was especially applause-worthy given the cramped schedule that India have endured recently.
The team’s resilience was tested following their participation in the Asian Games held in Japan from September 24 to October 3, where they secured a gold medal. Despite the fatigue of international travel, the players immediately shifted focus to a five-match T20I series against the West Indies that concluded on October 17. Following that, the group traveled to New Zealand on October 20, managed a single practice session on October 21, and immediately faced a high-stakes match environment the following day. Gambhir emphasized that pulling off three major chases during the first six days—including a explosive display where they scored 199 runs in only 13.2 overs—demonstrated the championship-level quality the team has maintained over the past two years. But they still were back on the park for the T20Is against West Indies from October 6, they returned home with the gold medal and perhaps a lot of jet lag. Practiced on 21st and were throw into a match situation a day later, they then flew all the way to New Zealand on October 20th. Pulling off three big chases over the next six days, which included smashing 199 in just 13.2 overs, india performed like the T20 champions they have been for the last couple of years. Three young boys got us across the line [in the second T20I] and then chasing 199 in 14 overs [13.2]… winning the first game after one practice session. But sometimes things don’t go in your favour as well, we wanted to win the next two as well.
Reflecting on the successful start to the tour, Gambhir stated that the biggest achievement, beyond the result, was how the players adapted to foreign conditions with such ruthlessness in the initial three fixtures. He remarked that it was an incredible effort considering the limited preparation time, acknowledging the challenge of facing a high-quality New Zealand team in their home conditions. Many players were visiting New Zealand for the first time, yet they performed admirably against a veteran opposition, according to the head coach. It’s an incredible effort because the boys got only one day to prepare.
The road to victory featured significant moments, such as the first match where India successfully navigated a 225-run target. Although the team faced a middle-overs collapse, Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings with a 28-ball 42, while Naman Dhir shifted the momentum with a crucial 15-ball 42. In the second T20I, a recovery from 70/5, led by Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, and Nitish Reddy, underscored the side’s composure under pressure. Gambhir pointed to these performances as clear evidence of the team’s ability to handle extreme pressure and challenging weather, despite the inevitable fluctuations of a competitive series. Chasing 188, India were down to 70/5 before the trio of Tilak Varma, Naman and Nitish Reddy saw the chase through, in the second T20I.
Regarding Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, Gambhir noted that while the tenure began with early hurdles, including losses against Ireland and England, the leadership has since stabilized. The team has seen consistent success in Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Japan, and the Asian Games, followed by a 2-2 tie against the West Indies. Gambhir commended Iyer for effectively managing an inexperienced bowling attack during this period. He noted that taking over a side that had not lost a series in two years and had won a World Cup is a significant responsibility. By providing opportunities to younger players, the team is looking toward the future, and Gambhir believes Iyer has done a phenomenal job under these evolving circumstances, as a captain’s success is ultimately tied to the performance of the evolving squad around him. With so much of inexperience in the bowling lineup, so I thought that Shreyas has done a fabulous job.
