NEW DELHI: While dwelling on the subject of team bonding, former Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir recalled his meeting with the current coach of Australian team Justin Langer in 2015.
In his column for the Times of India, Gambhir wrote, "In 2015, I went to Perth, Australia. I wanted to work on my game with the current coach of Australian team Justin Langer. My first meeting with him was at his small yet 'powerful' office located under the stands of the WACA stadium. I used the word powerful because JL's office seemed like a hotspot for team culture for Western Australia. Former Aussie opening batsman was always drilling the values of team bonding. There wasn't any 'I' in his communication, it was all 'We'. During the stay that lasted about 20 days I worked extensively with JL and his boys. In the gym, on the WACA outfield, at other training venues etc., he was always a big one on team culture."
Gambhir recalled his conversations with Langer that centred around the team as a whole and not as a player.
"We used to talk a lot about the game. JL would always underline an observation which I think he developed in Steve Waugh's Australian dressing room: The importance of letting teammates hog the limelight during good times and fronting the world when the chips are down. This is the glue that helps a leader bind his dressing room. The Indian team would need loads of it as they go into the game against New Zealand. Whether it is Brisbane, the home series against England this year or even the recent tour to England, the Indian team knows how to arrest a slide. A lot is being said from the outside but I am sure they won't be as anxious," Gambhir added.
Gambhir underlined the importance and the advantage Team India has with having MS Dhoni as the mentor for the T20 World Cup.
"For me a lot will rest on MS Dhoni and his experience. He is the most seasoned head in that dressing room. He can guide Virat Kohli on how to play crunch situations. I don't know how the roles are divided between Dhoni and coach Ravi Shastri but it will be crucial if the former is in Virat's ears. I am not suggesting a crash course in tactics for Virat but it will be good if Dhoni is more hands on for today's game," Gambhir opined.
Gambhir observed that India should drop Hardik Pandya if he is unfit to bowl and bring in Ishan Kishan in the playing XI.
"From the combination point of view, I'd reiterate that play Hardik Pandya only if he is bowling. Otherwise play Ishan Kishan in his place. Ashwin can play only in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. But will playing three spinners be a luxury? I am not sure, all depends on the conditions where dew may also play an important role. If I was there I'd open the bowling with Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy. To have the mystery of Varun on your side is crucial as Kiwis haven't seen him. Importantly, Virat should use him judiciously so that the mystery factor is not diluted. I'd urge Rishabh Pant to put a better price on his wicket. He has to understand that he is playing at a slot where he will have to pinch out singles and doubles if boundaries are drying up. By all means go for those one handed sixes but also create gaps when the opposition is tightening the noose. Rishabh is invaluable as an asset but his game has to rally around the team requirements," Gambhir signed off.
