India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has spoken about the changes in the team following Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as head coach. Gambhir took over the role after Rahul Dravid stepped down following India’s 2024 ICC T20 World Cup triumph. His coaching stint began with the Sri Lanka tour, where India won the T20I series but fell short in the ODI series.
India will next play Bangladesh, featuring two Tests at home which is part of the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle. Notably, it will mark Gambhir’s true test as the coach.
Pant is likely to play a crucial role in India’s upcoming assignments. The 26-year-old has recently shared his insights on the changes in the team under Gambhir’s leadership.
“What is the biggest change that can happen under Gautam Gambhir and how it can take Indian cricket forward?” Pant was asked.
“I feel Rahul bhai was very balanced as a human being and as a coach. It could be both good and bad, because in cricket there can be positives. This is upon the individuals whether to focus on the positives and negatives, and it depends on where individuals want to focus. Gauti bhai (Gambhir) is more aggressive, he’s very one-sided about the fact that you have to win. But you need to find the right balance and improve. This is the best part of international cricket,” Pant said on Jio Cinema.
Pant further emphasized that they can’t take Bangladesh lightly in the upcoming series while also highlighting the importance of India’s continuous improvement. Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, recently scripted history, clinching the two-match Test series against Pakistan.
“Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka perform well in Asian conditions because they are accustomed to the wickets. As the Indian cricket team, we focus solely on our own standards and how we can improve. Regardless of the opposition, we strive to play with the same intensity and give our 100 percent every single day,” he added.
He went on to say that no series should be taken lightly, as the margins between teams are narrowing in international cricket.
“Pressure will always be there because in international cricket, you can’t take any series lightly. The margin between winning and losing is very small, and nowadays, the gap between international teams isn’t much either,” he said further.
The 26-year-old also stated that participating in the Duleep Trophy before a lengthy Test season will benefit players with advantageous match practice. He added that it is also a golden opportunity for young domestic cricketers to play alongside international stars.
