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STUMP VISION NOVEMBER 14, 2025 | The Indian Eye 40

The Gambhir Way: How India’s New Coach

Built a Fearless, Unbeaten T20 Machine

Under head coach Gautam Gambhir, India’s T20 team has turned into a unit that

thrives on aggression, belief, and accountability

OUR BUREAU
Sydney
ndia’s emphatic 48-run win over Australia at
Carrara Oval on Thursday wasn’t just anoth-
Ier series victory — it was the latest chapter in
Gautam Gambhir’s transformation of Indian crick-
et. With this triumph, India extended their unbeat-
en T20I series streak to five, a run that began in Sri
Lanka last year and now stands as a testament to a
culture built on intensity, discipline, and self-belief.
When Gambhir took charge after Rahul Dra-
vid’s departure last year, India were in a rebuilding
phase. The old guard was fading, and the younger
generation was still untested in pressure situations.
Instead of opting for gradual transition, Gam-
bhir demanded an immediate reset. “Reputation
doesn’t play,” he reportedly told players during his
first camp. “Performance does.”
The change was visible right from his first as-
signment — the 3-0 clean sweep against Sri Lanka.
Gambhir’s philosophy of attacking cricket, both
with bat and ball, became the team’s identity. Un-
der him, players were encouraged to express them-
selves, take risks, and never fear failure.
In October, India hosted Bangladesh and Indian Cricket Team head coach Gautam Gambhir celebrates with Hardik Pandya after Team India wins the Asia Cup 2025 final
dished out another 3-0 whitewash, with newcom- match against Pakistan (ANI)
ers like Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma flourishing
under the new, aggressive setup. “He makes you Gambhir’s greatest strength lies in his man-man- tism. “He’s brought edge and emotion back to the
believe you belong here,” a player was quoted say- agement. He isn’t the smiling, soft-spoken type; his team,” said Dinesh Karthik. “They play like him
ing after the series. edge is his honesty. Players trust him because he — hard, disciplined, and fearless.”
Then came the acid test — a four-match se- speaks directly and backs them unconditionally. With the T20 World Cup 2026 on home soil,
ries in South Africa. The Proteas had always been That approach has filtered through the Gambhir’s long-term focus is clear. He wants
a tough challenge, but India showed they could squad. Suryakumar Yadav, leading the T20 side, a side that doesn’t just win matches but impos-
dominate anywhere. After a slip-up in the second has thrived under Gambhir’s no-excuses culture. es itself. The emphasis is on depth — building
game, India rebounded strongly to seal the series Youngsters like Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, and all-rounders, developing death specialists, and fos-
3-1, with Tilak Varma scoring back-to-back un- Titas Sadhu have been given freedom to fail — tering adaptable top orders that can play anywhere
beaten hundreds. Gambhir’s mantra — learn fast, and space to grow. Veterans like Ravindra Jadeja in the world.
attack faster — had begun to take hold. and Jasprit Bumrah have been reinvigorated by a Shivam Dube put it best when asked about his
Early this year, England toured India for a system that demands accountability without mi- long-term goals: “The 2027 World Cup is far away.
five-match T20I series. The visitors, known for cromanagement. Right now, we just want to defend our T20 crown
their own fearless approach, were outclassed 4-1. Gambhir’s tactical approach is rooted in clar- at home. That’s all that matters.”
Even when India lost the third match, Gambhir’s ity and courage. His teams attack from ball one, Under Gambhir, that single-mindedness is
response was telling: no panic, no reshuffles, no regardless of conditions. Bowlers are told to hunt contagious. He’s not building stars; he’s building a
harsh words — just sharper plans and clearer in- wickets, not defend runs. Batters are told to push squad of relentless competitors. Every game, every
tent. “We don’t play to survive,” he said. “We play the tempo, not play for averages. series, is treated like a final.
to dominate.” India’s T20 game plan now mirrors Gambhir’s India’s unbeaten streak is now more than a
The pattern continued through 2025. India own playing style — gritty, stubborn, and utterly statistic — it’s a symbol of a mindset shift. A team
crushed rivals in the Asia Cup — unbeaten yet uncompromising. During his IPL stint with Kolk- once accused of being conservative has found its
again — and arrived in Australia riding a wave ata Knight Riders, Gambhir built a reputation as a aggression again.
of confidence and tactical clarity. In Queensland, cerebral leader; with India, he’s doing it again, only And at the heart of that transformation stands
they absorbed pressure early in the tour before with a bigger canvas. Gautam Gambhir — fiery, focused, and utterly
overpowering the hosts twice in a row to take a 2-1 Former cricketers have lauded how he’s fused fearless — the coach who turned self-belief into
lead in the five-match series. India’s flair with a hint of street-fighter pragma- India’s most potent weapon.

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