'Final Opportunity To Make Our Country Proud': Gautam Gambhir Rallies Team India Ahead Of Oval Test
India head coach Gautam Gambhir says their ongoing tour of England has been quite challenging as has been the case in the past and noted the support the team has enjoyed.
India secured a hard-fought draw in Manchester to ensure England won't take an unassailable lead in the five-match series and give themselves one final chance to end on level terms with the fifth Test starting from Thursday in London.
England currently lead the series 2-1 courtesy their victories in Leeds and Lord's.
'Touring this part of the world has always been exciting and challenging because of the history between the two countries, which can never be forgotten," Gambhir said. 'We have cherished every bit of support we have received every time we have toured the UK."
Gambhir was speaking during a gathering at the India House in London on Monday evening with the team receiving a rousing welcome from community leaders, parliamentarians and sports fans at a diaspora reception hosted by the High Commission of India.
Gambhir is happy with the manner in which the series has turned out so far.
'The last five weeks have been really exciting for both countries," Gambhir said. 'I am sure that the kind of cricket that was put on display has made every cricket lover proud. Both teams threw a lot of punches and fought for every inch."
'We have one more week to go. One final push to make. One final opportunity to make our country proud. Jai Hind," he concluded.
Vikram Doraiswami, India's High Commissioner to the UK, said the fighting spirit the team showed during the series was a just reflection of the country's will to fight the odds.
'It's been a great series, played in the best of spirit. But the best bit of it all is the fact that we have a chance to see Test cricket played the way it is intended to be – contests for full five days, contests that have gone to the wire, contests in which the great sense of cricket as a game that is played with intensity for five days.
'And to have our team here display what is truly the range of skills but also the fighting spirit that is now associated with Team India is also a great reflection of the fighting spirit that now stands for the new India that we are all privileged to represent here," said Doraiswami.
With PTI Inputs
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