'No Designated Finisher, All-Format Captain Soon': Gambhir's Roadmap To Transform India
Head coach Gautam Gambhir will focus on T20Is as India prepares for the Asia Cup, aiming to rebrand the team by emphasizing players' skillsets over designated roles.
Following a successful England tour, head coach Gautam Gambhir will shift his focus to the T20Is as India's next assignment is the Asia Cup, which begins next month. The shortest format has always been the former opener's strength, both as a player and as a coach, with plenty of facts to back it up.
T20 has brought him recognition. A decade ago, he led Kolkata Knight Riders to back-to-back title victories. Last year, he stepped into the mentor's shoes and helped the franchise clinch its third. Even before taking up the role of India's head coach, Gambhir was vocal about the selection of the T20I team based on the IPL performances. As he gears up to guide the men in blue in the Asia Cup and the series against Australia and South Africa, the mentality for team selection seems the same.
According to The Times Of India, Gambhir is determined to rebrand the T20 side. As the team has often received criticism for not keeping along with time, Gambhir is believed to address that primarily.
'The chatter in Indian cricket is that he would prefer an all-format captain soon to build a common culture. Gambhir has been very clear with his vision. He walked in with an idea to rebrand the T20 team. India have often been accused of not being able to move with the times in the shortest format. Gambhir has decided to address it with players who can be branded as T20 specialists," the report said.
The report further stated that there are no more designated finishers in the dressing room. Instead, the roles are assigned as per the skillset of the players.
'There's no room for getting comfortable. Roles are assigned as per skills, not batting numbers. He is comfortable with this facet of a modern-day T20 cricketer," the report said.
'Shivam Dube, for one, will always get preference since he can go up the order and blast the bowling if the openers get off to great starts. There are no designated finishers," it further read.
After the Champions Trophy success and a decent England tour, things seem to be falling in place for Gambhir. The upcoming T20I assignments will be crucial for him, especially when the team looks to defend the T20 World Cup title at home in a few months.
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