‘It’s really an honour to have him in the team’ – Gautam Gambhir on Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah (Twitter)

India are going to host Bangladesh for a two-Test match series at the M.A Chidambaram stadium, Chennai from Thursday, September 19th 2024. Team India is going through an important change after appointing Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the squad. 

Gautam Gambhir talked about how his influence has grown outside cricket ahead of his debut Test series India head coach. He also mentioned that people always talk about batters in India and how the nation became batting-obsessed.

“It has not happened many times in India where we started talking about the bowler,” Gambhir said. “I think it has always been about batters, batters and batters. India at one stage was a batting-obsessed nation. And you’ve got to give credit to Bumrah, [Mohammed] Shami, [Mohammed] Siraj, [R] Ashwin, [Ravindra] Jadeja that now they are turning this intention into a bowling obsessed… not bowling obsessed nation that we started talking about the bowler, Gambhir as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. 

Also Read: We don’t drop anyone, we select the best: Gautam Gambhir

He also shared that the team is lucky enough to have a bowler like Jasprit Bumrah in the squad for Tests. Despite having only played 36 Tests, Bumrah has impressive stats. Roughly once every three Test matches, he is taking five-wicket hauls (ten so far) and he has been instrumental in some of India’s most well-known victories including those at the Oval in 2021, Melbourne in 2018 and Visakhapatnam in 2024. 

India have been very fortunate – Gautam Gambhir

Even though Gambhir has not coached on any national level, he feels that his connections with the Indian players from his twelve years as an all-format opening batter will help him adjust to his new role as a head coach of a very successful Test team. He doesn’t have any goals other than to help India win games. 

“I’ve always been a believer that the best style is the style that wins and we want to be a team that adapts and learns quickly, rather than adopting one style. Because if you start adopting one style, then there is no growth. We want guys to be playing the situation, the conditions, and then keep growing every day. And that is all that matters. You know, all this, giving a name to a certain style and playing only one way, see, ultimately sport is all about results. And the best, as I just mentioned, the best style is the style that wins.”

Also Read: We don’t fear anyone but we respect everyone: Gautam Gambhir

Although India have never lost a Test match to Bangladesh, Gautam Gambhir has taken care of to ensure that this does not impact their preparations for the first Test in Chennai. “You don’t change your intensity by looking at the opposition,” he said. “International cricket means that, do you have that hunger for every session, every hour, every ball? Because, ultimately, when you are playing for your country, and when the other 15 players are playing for their country, they will be good and anyone can defeat anyone. So, if you think that, changing your intensity by looking at Australia or England, I think, no high-quality side does that. And, it shouldn’t be done. A champion side is the one who sets their own standards.”

Gambhir also mentioned how he would pick spinners for the squad since this is the home season for India and the Test will be played in Chennai against Bangladesh, the focus will be on spinners. 

“Obviously, first is the impact they can create on day one and on day five,” he said. “India have been very fortunate that we’ve got people like Ashwin and Jadeja. They’ve bowled really well in tandem as well, and we know how they can contribute on day one. Because for Test cricket, the most important thing is that you should have the ability to bowl defensive, and you should have the ability to bowl attacking stuff as well. So I feel that we’re going to have an attack which can take 20 wickets, and those two guys are definitely going to create a lot of impact in Indian conditions, Gambhir as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. 

“Bangladesh have got some really quality cricketers. Shakib [Al Hasan] has got the experience. Mushfiqur [Rahim] has got the experience. You’ve got a very good bowling attack as well. Mehidy [Hasan Miraz] is there as well. So we know that there is talent in Bangladesh. But the important thing is that we need to be switched on from ball one. And that is what the expectations from all of us are in that dressing room.”

Also Read: Gautam Gambhir lauds Virat Kohli for playing ‘best ODI knock by an Indian’

Gambhir is really happy with the team he has to work with to select talent. “The best thing is that, from the last seven-eight days, my first Sri Lanka tour, I have seen one thing, that all the players sitting in that dressing room, how much they like to play for India. We always say that players like to play IPL. But, there’s not much truth in this. Ultimately, when you represent your country, there’s nothing greater than that.”

However, they do face difficulties while transferring between formats, particularly in Test cricket. Even after winning 17 straight series at home, India have not been exempt fro this. It seems as though the batters are facing a slight slump in terms of scoring runs.