Chennai: Gautam Gambhir, facing his first Test as head coach, addressed the media with his trademark directness, sidestepping trendy jargon like ‘intent,’ ‘aggression,’ or ‘fearlessness.’ Instead, he emphasized a straightforward objective: “Anything works as long as India wins.”

Gambhir elaborated on the team’s philosophy on the eve of the first Test against Bangladesh, emphasizing adaptability and continuous learning over rigid adherence to a single playing style. “We want to be a team that adapts and learns quickly,” Gambhir stated. “Adopting one style limits growth. It’s about playing the situation and conditions while growing every day. Ultimately, sport is about results, and the best style is the one that wins.”

These words offer a glimpse into Gambhir’s vision for the team, reminding everyone that players like Rishabh Pant are multifaceted talents. “Pant’s batting often overshadows his wicketkeeping,” Gambhir noted. “But look at his performance in Indian conditions—keeping against top spinners like Ashwin, Jadeja, and Kuldeep is no small feat.” This could serve as encouragement for Pant to further refine his wicketkeeping skills.

Addressing the ongoing quest for a seam-bowling allrounder from the U-19 level, Gambhir was unequivocal: “It’s not my job to develop players at the international level. We’ve been discussing the lack of a fast-bowling allrounder since Kapil Dev. If we don’t have one, we should focus on our strengths—our quality spin allrounders.” He added, “How many international teams boast a spin-bowling allrounder? India has that luxury.”

India has long been preoccupied with Hardik Pandya’s fitness for Test cricket. However, Gambhir believes that India’s reliance on bowlers is transforming the narrative in a traditionally batting-obsessed nation. “For years, it was all about batters,” he said. “But credit goes to bowlers like Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, Ashwin, and Jadeja for shifting the focus. Bumrah, especially, is the best fast bowler in all formats globally. His performance and hunger to play Test cricket are commendable. Having someone like Bumrah in our dressing room can make a difference at any stage of the game.”

Gambhir also stressed the importance of batters adapting to different situations and conditions—a skill that recent Indian teams may lack without Cheteshwar Pujara. “In Test cricket, you have time to defend and wear down the bowler,” he explained. “A strong defense is crucial if you want to excel in Test cricket. While T20 cricket has popularized various shots, the foundation remains your defense.”

He cautioned against relying solely on flashy shots developed in T20 formats. “When we started, youngsters were taught to defend first. A strong defense allows you to build other skills. If you focus only on flashy shots, there’s no guarantee you’ll succeed in Test cricket. But a solid defense can certainly make you a good Test cricketer. It’s vital to focus on these fundamentals both as a team and as individuals.”

In essence, Gambhir’s approach combines traditional cricketing wisdom with a modern emphasis on adaptability and results. By focusing on fundamental skills and valuing the strengths of each player, he aims to build a resilient and versatile Indian cricket team.