'It's really an honour to have him in the team' - Gautam Gambhir on Jasprit Bumrah

India are going to host Bangladesh for a two-Test match series at the M.A Chidambaram stadium, Chennai from Thursday, September 19th 2024. Team India is going through an important change after appointing Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the squad. 

Gautam Gambhir talked about how his influence has grown outside cricket ahead of his debut Test series India head coach. He also mentioned that people always talk about batters in India and how the nation became batting-obsessed.

"It has not happened many times in India where we started talking about the bowler," Gambhir said. "I think it has always been about batters, batters and batters. India at one stage was a batting-obsessed nation. And you've got to give credit to Bumrah, [Mohammed] Shami, [Mohammed] Siraj, [R] Ashwin, [Ravindra] Jadeja that now they are turning this intention into a bowling obsessed... not bowling obsessed nation that we started talking about the bowler, Gambhir as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. 

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He also shared that the team is lucky enough to have a bowler like Jasprit Bumrah in the squad for Tests. Despite having only played 36 Tests, Bumrah has impressive stats. Roughly once every three Test matches, he is taking five-wicket hauls (ten so far) and he has been instrumental in some of India's most well-known victories including those at the Oval in 2021, Melbourne in 2018 and Visakhapatnam in 2024. 

India have been very fortunate - Gautam Gambhir

Even though Gambhir has not coached on any national level, he feels that his connections with the Indian players from his twelve years as an all-format opening batter will help him adjust to his new role as a head coach of a very successful Test team. He doesn't have any goals other than to help India win games. 

"I've always been a believer that the best style is the style that wins and we want to be a team that adapts and learns quickly, rather than adopting one style. Because if you start adopting one style, then there is no growth. We want guys to be playing the situation, the conditions, and then keep growing every day. And that is all that matters. You know, all this, giving a name to a certain style and playing only one way, see, ultimately sport is all about results. And the best, as I just mentioned, the best style is the style that wins."

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Although India have never lost a Test match to Bangladesh, Gautam Gambhir has taken care of to ensure that this does not impact their preparations for the first Test in Chennai. Gambhir also mentioned how he would pick spinners for the squad since this is the home season for India and the Test will be played in Chennai against Bangladesh, the focus will be on spinners. 

"Bangladesh have got some really quality cricketers. Shakib [Al Hasan] has got the experience. Mushfiqur [Rahim] has got the experience. You've got a very good bowling attack as well. Mehidy [Hasan Miraz] is there as well. So we know that there is talent in Bangladesh. But the important thing is that we need to be switched on from ball one. And that is what the expectations from all of us are in that dressing room."

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Gambhir is really happy with the team he has to work with to select talent. "The best thing is that, from the last seven-eight days, my first Sri Lanka tour, I have seen one thing, that all the players sitting in that dressing room, how much they like to play for India. We always say that players like to play IPL. But, there's not much truth in this. Ultimately, when you represent your country, there's nothing greater than that."

However, they do face difficulties while transferring between formats, particularly in Test cricket. Even after winning 17 straight series at home, India have not been exempt fro this. It seems as though the batters are facing a slight slump in terms of scoring runs.