As India prepares to face England in a crucial five-Test series starting June 20, head coach Gautam Gambhir delivered a fiery and emotional address to his squad, urging them to stop looking back at the absence of legends and instead seize the opportunity to carve out their own path.
With Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin having retired from Test cricket, India’s squad may lack experience but not hunger. Gambhir made that abundantly clear in his pep talk, shared by BCCI on social media.
“There are only two ways of looking at this tour—either we sulk over missing three greats or we grab this phenomenal opportunity,” said Gambhir.
Gambhir’s Call to Arms: Fight Every Session, Every Ball
Gambhir challenged his players to sacrifice, adapt, and fight session by session.
“If we start fighting—not just every day, but every session, every ball—we can make this a memorable tour for the country.”
His message set the tone for a fresh Indian side led by Shubman Gill, with Rishabh Pant as his deputy.
A New Era Begins with New Faces and Big Returns
Gambhir welcomed the newcomers and those making long-awaited comebacks:
- Sai Sudharsan: “Fabulous last 3 months. I hope you have a successful red-ball career.”
- Arshdeep Singh: “Phenomenal in white-ball, now show it with the red-ball.”
- Karun Nair: “A comeback after 7 years… it’s inspiring for this group.”
He also congratulated Shubman Gill on his Test captaincy and Rishabh Pant for joining the leadership group.
India’s Core Still Intact
While the absence of big names dominates headlines, India retains veterans of English conditions in Jadeja, Rahul, Pant, and Bumrah—all on their third tour of England. The blend of returning experience and fresh ambition gives India a fighting chance.
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