India’s new head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has lauded captain Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership style, emphasizing its perfect alignment with the dynamic nature of T20 cricket. Gambhir believes his primary role is to offer honest advice to Suryakumar, grounded in his understanding of the game. Since Gambhir took the helm after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory, the captain-coach partnership has been highly effective. Together, they have elevated India’s batting aggression and maintained a consistent winning streak, culminating in the recent Asia Cup triumph in the UAE. Their next challenge is a five-match T20I series in Australia, commencing Wednesday at Manuka Oval.
Gambhir highlighted Suryakumar’s character, stating, “Good humans make good leaders.” He elaborated on their collaborative approach, “my role is simply to advise him fairly based on my reading of the game. Ultimately, this is his team.” He further noted Suryakumar’s free-spirited personality mirrors the essence of T20 cricket, which thrives on 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 stressed that India’s T20 strategy under Suryakumar embraces calculated risks, particularly in high-stakes encounters. “From our first conversation, we agreed: we will not fear losing,” Gambhir declared. “I don’t aim to be the most successful coach; I want us to be the most fearless team.” He reassured players that mistakes are acceptable, citing the Asia Cup final where he communicated that playing a risky shot or dropping a catch is part of the process. “Human beings make mistakes. Only the opinions of those in the dressing room matter,” he asserted. “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.”
Despite Suryakumar’s recent batting struggles, scoring low in several matches, Gambhir remains unconcerned. “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 failures are an inherent part of this aggressive philosophy. “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.” Gambhir added that while Abhishek Sharma is currently in good form, Suryakumar will resume his responsibilities when he finds his rhythm. “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.
