“Playing Fearlessly Was Our Only Plan”: Gautam Gambhir After India’s T20 World Cup Triumph

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir said that playing fearless cricket was the team’s only strategy after India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the T20 World Cup final to become champions for the third time.

With this victory, India achieved several milestones. The team became the most successful side in the tournament, the first team to defend the title, and also won the trophy on home soil.

Gambhir Responds to Critics

Speaking after the victory, Gambhir addressed the criticism he had faced earlier in the tournament.

He said that every person views cricket differently and it would not be fair to compare his team with others.

According to Gambhir, his approach to T20 cricket is simple — play with courage and without fear.

He explained that the team’s strategy with the captain was to play aggressively and aim for scores of 250–260 runs, even if it meant occasionally being dismissed for low totals.

“If a team fears losing, it can never win in cricket,” Gambhir said. He added that India had earlier suffered a 100-run defeat against South Africa, but the team did not change its aggressive approach.

Gambhir also emphasized that team achievements should be celebrated more than individual milestones.

He said he does not worry about criticism from outside and only feels responsible for the players and staff inside the Indian dressing room.

Tribute to Former Contributors

Gambhir dedicated the victory to Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and Ajit Agarkar for their contributions to Indian cricket.

He praised Dravid for building a strong foundation during his tenure as coach and acknowledged Laxman’s work at the National Cricket Academy. Gambhir also appreciated chief selector Ajit Agarkar for his honesty and dedication.

He thanked ICC chairman Jay Shah as well for trusting him and giving him the opportunity to lead the team as head coach.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav on Team Unity

India captain Suryakumar Yadav said the team’s only goal was to win matches together.

He noted that he had earlier played under Gambhir’s captaincy at Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and understood his leadership style well.

According to him, both captain and coach shared the same vision and had never had disagreements.

Suryakumar emphasized the importance of making players feel comfortable and confident, which helped players like Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma deliver match-winning performances.

He also praised Jasprit Bumrah, calling him a “national treasure” and one of the finest bowlers of this generation.

Bumrah on His Match-Winning Spell

Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who was named Player of the Match, described the victory as very special.

He said that although he had been bowling well before the final, he focused on understanding the pitch conditions and adapting his strategy.

Bumrah revealed that slower deliveries worked effectively on the Ahmedabad pitch, making it difficult for batters to play their shots.

Samson Thanks Sachin Tendulkar

Tournament hero Sanju Samson described the World Cup victory as a dream come true.

He revealed that he had stayed in touch with Sachin Tendulkar over the past two months and had received valuable advice from the cricket legend.

Samson admitted he had gone through a difficult period after the New Zealand series but continued to prepare himself for opportunities.

New Zealand Captain’s Reaction

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged that his team had been beaten by a stronger side.

He said the match was largely decided during the powerplay overs. According to Santner, restricting India to around 220 runs could have given New Zealand a chance to chase the target.

He added that New Zealand would now shift its focus to preparing for the next ODI World Cup.

Source : Dinamani