Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have retained their opening spots because of their contributions to India's recent T20I World Cup title defense. Gautam Gambhir reinforced that proven track records earn players extended opportunities, which has kept Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sidelined during the New Zealand tour. Having secured the series victory by taking the first three matches, the team remains fully motivated to treat every remaining game as a valuable learning experience. Furthermore, the squad has managed this success despite having only one practice session in New Zealand following consecutive home assignments and the Asian Games.
Key points
Gautam Gambhir believes providing security to proven players is critical for long-term te…: Gautam Gambhir believes providing security to proven players is critical for long-term team success.
The head coach firmly dismissed the concept of dead rubbers, stating that representing th…: The head coach firmly dismissed the concept of dead rubbers, stating that representing the country requires constant evolution.
The Indian squad demonstrated rapid adaptability while navigating an intense schedule wit…: The Indian squad demonstrated rapid adaptability while navigating an intense schedule with minimal preparation time.
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India head coach
Gautam Gambhir said his responsibility was to make the right decisions for the team rather than please everyone, stressing that players who have performed consistently deserve a longer run.
India have plenty of options on the bench, with teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi still waiting for an opportunity despite his performances.
Sanju Samson and
Abhishek Sharma have continued to open the innings and played key roles in India's successful defence of their T20I World Cup title earlier this year.
"First of all, my job is not to make everyone happy. My job is to take the right decisions, not the popular decisions. And that is what I'm there for," Gambhir told the broadcasters ahead of the fifth T20I against New Zealand on Sunday.
He said maintaining a sense of security within the dressing room was important and that players who had delivered over a longer period should be backed.
"No, it is very easy to take the popular decision. But for me, I think the important thing is to take the right decision and make sure that there…
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