Gautam Gambhir's 'Team Environment' Under Spotlight Again, Praised by 24-Year-Old Star

Photo : PTI

Gautam Gambhir’s name has been surrounded by conversations recently, with reports suggesting he was not fully aligned with senior players during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite the mixed opinions about his coaching style in traditional cricket formats, Gambhir earned praise from India's younger T20 stars, especially 24-year-old opener Abhishek Sharma. 

Abhishek played a stunning knock in India’s seven-wicket win over England in the first T20 match at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. He smashed 79 runs off just 34 balls, helping India chase down a target of 133 in just 12.5 overs. 

At the post-match presentation, Abhishek credited his success to the supportive environment fostered by Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav. “I wanted to express myself, but special mention to captain (Suryakumar Yadav) and coach (Gambhir). The freedom they give us as youngsters is incredible,” he said. 

Addressing the team’s dressing room atmosphere, Abhishek added, “I have never seen an environment like this. We are encouraged to express ourselves and play our shots, even from the first ball.”  

Abhishek also shared his simple game plan, which he modeled after his IPL performances. “My plan was straightforward—play the way I did in the IPL,” said the left-handed batter, who represents Sunrisers Hyderabad. His approach was to stay calm, use the pace of bowlers like Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, and wait for his chance. 

“I practiced my movements before the match because I knew they would bowl short and test my patience. I followed my plans perfectly,” he explained. Talking about the Eden Gardens pitch, Abhishek mentioned, “The pitch was tricky, a bit two-paced, but our bowlers did a great job. We thought we’d chase something like 160-170.”

Abhishek also highlighted his partnership with Sanju Samson, sharing how their communication helps during games. “Sanju and I talk a lot as batting partners. When he’s batting, I enjoy watching him from the other end,” he said.

India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav praised the team’s energy, especially after winning the toss, which he believed set the tone for the match. “There’s a lot of freedom given in this team. We want to play differently. The bowlers executed their plans brilliantly, and the batting performance was the cherry on top. We used the same approach during the South Africa series,” Suryakumar said.

He also mentioned how the team’s bowling combinations worked well, highlighting Hardik Pandya’s role with the new ball, Varun’s well-planned preparations, and Arshdeep Singh’s growing responsibility.

On the other side, England captain Jos Buttler reflected on his team’s performance. He emphasized their aggressive intent, a philosophy encouraged by new coach Brendon McCullum. “We want to play with aggression and be exciting to watch. McCullum has brought that energy into the team, and I’m a big fan of his style,” Buttler shared.

Talking about the match, Buttler added, “There was something in the pitch early on, which we didn’t expect. But once you got through that phase, it was a good pitch for scoring.” He also praised Jofra Archer and Mark Wood for their performances, calling them exciting and threatening bowlers.

The opening game showcased not just India’s dominance but also how young players like Abhishek Sharma are thriving under a supportive team environment, guided by Gambhir and the leadership team.

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