Page 40 - The Indian EYE 072624

SPORTS JULY 26, 2024 | The Indian Eye 40

INDIA IN SRI LANKA

Gautam Gambhir ready for his first

test as coach as Men in Blue go on tour

The three T20Is will be held on July 27, July 28 and July 30 which will be followed by a three-match ODI

series that will start from August 1. The Pallekele International Stadium will be hosting the T20I leg of the
series, while the R Premadasa is getting to host the 50-over matches

OUR BUREAU
Mumbai
eam India head coach, Gautam Gambhir,
spoke about his relationship with the Board
Tof Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sec-
retary, Jay Shah during the press conference before
leaving for Sri Lanka.
“I have a fabulous relationship with him. Jay
Shah and I go a long way back. All these specula-
tions about different things are given on different
pages. I think we can do a better job by clarifying
those things rather than putting it in the press. We
go a long way back. So far, it’s been a great rela-
tionship. Hopefully, it continues that way,” Gam-
bhir said in the press conference.
The former left-hand batter further stated that
the welfare of the team is important than him.
Ahead of the start of the tour, India’s newly
appointed head coach, Gautam Gambhir, believes
that he has big shoes to fill as he steps into a role
previously held by the likes of Rahul Dravid and
Ravi Shastri.
“The most important thing is that they will al-
ways have my back. Aim to make it a happy and
secure dressing room. I am taking over a very suc-
cessful team. Runner-ups in WTC and 50-overs India head coach Gautam Gambhir and selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar address a joint press conference ahead of the
WC. I have big shoes to fill and looking forward to
it,” Gambhir said in the press conference. team’s departure to Sri Lanka for a white-ball series, featuring 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is, in Mumbai on Monday (ANI)
Gambhir will have the support of his KKR
mate Abhishek Nayar, who will take on the role portant. Gambhir is not important. All of us have left for Sri Lanka, where they will play a three-
of assistant coach of the team and Ryan Ten hearts in the right place. If we all think that Indi- match T20I followed by a three-match ODI series.
Doeschate, who also joins the support staff. an cricket has to move forward, we will be on the The three T20Is will be held on July 27, July
“I have worked closely with Abhishek and same page. So far, I have had a great working rela- 28 and July 30 which will be followed by a three-
Ryan in the last two months at IPL with KKR. tionship with him, hopefully, it will continue in the match ODI series that will start from August 1.
Both are absolute professionals and hopefully future as well,” the 42-year-old added. The Pallekele International Stadium will be host-
they will have a successful stint with the Indian After the completion of the press conference ing the T20I leg of the series, while the R Prema-
team as coaches.” in Mumbai on Monday, the Indian Cricket Team dasa is getting to host the 50-over matches.
Nayar played three ODIs for India and won
several Ranji Trophy titles with Mumbai through-
out his first-class career, which lasted over 100 T20I SQUAD ODI SQUAD
games. Even as an active player, Nayar guided Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill Rohit Sharma (C), Suhubman Gill (VC),
Dinesh Karthik and assisted him in making an (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant
international comeback. More recently, mystery Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep
spinner Varun Chakravarthy praised Nayar after
the Kolkata Knight Riders won their first IPL title (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar,
in ten seasons. Nayar has previously served as the Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel,
head coach of Trinbago Knight Riders in the Ca- Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.
ribbean Premier League. Mohd. Siraj.
“The betterment of Indian cricket is more im-

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