Gautam Gambhir warns players in the dressing room after winning the IND vs NZ series

After winning the T20 series against New Zealand with a score of 3-2, the head coach of the Indian team, Gautam Gambhir, highly praised the players' performance. He called the victory 'incredible,' noting that the team did not have enough time to prepare, but the players overcame this challenge through their aggressive and fearless approach. Gambhir emphasized that although few might discuss this achievement, the team should be proud of its play.

India initially won the first three T20 matches against New Zealand, but the hosts managed to win the last two, leading to a final series score of 3-2. After the fifth T20 in Hamilton on November 1, Gambhir shared his thoughts on the team's performance.

Gambhir reported that the Indian team arrived in New Zealand on October 20 and could only train the following day, October 21. The first match in Christchurch was scheduled for October 22, meaning the players had only one training session.

He also noted that the players faced issues related to jet lag, changing weather, and differences in pitch conditions. Furthermore, most of the team players were visiting New Zealand for the first time; according to Gambhir, about 70-80 percent of the players had no previous experience playing there.

Gambhir called it an 'incredible effort' because the players were given only one day to prepare. Playing against such a strong team as New Zealand after a 15-hour flight and one training session was not easy. He urged the players to be proud of their efforts.

The head coach explained that because the team played two consecutive series, there was no time for detailed planning of the T20 matches. Before traveling to New Zealand, India played against the West Indies. However, regarding the Test series, the team management prepared in advance. Gambhir tried to ensure that at least one four-day match in New Zealand conditions was played by both the test team players—batsmen and bowlers.

He added that the biggest problem for the T20 team during this tour was that the ODI and Test players had time to prepare, which the T20 team did not have.

Gambhir praised the fearless and aggressive attitude of the Indian players. He noted that the team was under constant pressure, but the players handled it well. He stated, 'I know many people don't talk about this, but this is an achievement that should always be discussed. These players were under constant pressure, and that is called ruthlessness.' At the same time, he admitted that India wanted to win both the last two matches, but things don't always go in India's favor in cricket.

Gambhir also highly rated captain Shreyas Iyer. He said that Shreyas performed excellently despite the lack of an experienced attacking lineup. In this series, the Indian team lacked replacements for experienced players like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, which created constant pressure on the bowlers.

Gambhir noted that Shreyas led a T20 team that had won the World Cup and hadn't lost a series in two years. After that, the team suffered defeats in tours of England and Ireland, where many new players were given a chance. In Gambhir's opinion, it is important to give opportunities to young players and develop them in overseas tours to prepare for the next T20 World Cup. He concluded that the captain's performance largely depends on the play of his batsmen and bowlers, and Shreyas demonstrated brilliant leadership despite the inexperienced batting lineup.

When asked if he ever feels fear amidst constant difficulties, Gambhir answered directly. He stated that he is not afraid of anything. He emphasized that the concept of fear is absent from his vocabulary, directory, and ideology. He added that they are professionals and always believed that there should be no excuses. They will do everything possible to fulfill the responsibility placed upon them and achieve results for the country.

The head coach also spoke about the workload caused by the tight schedule and constant tours. He admitted that the schedule is very demanding, and the responsibility is not simple. Nevertheless, he noted that he enjoys this job because few people have the opportunity to wear the Indian team jersey again.

In the fifth T20 match between India and New Zealand, held at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday (November 1), Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Varun Chakravarthy returned to the Indian team. However, young player Vaibhavi Suryavanshi once again had to wait for his chance in the starting lineup.

This young athlete, who has attracted attention due to consistently high performance and talent, has not been included in the first eleven for the second consecutive match, raising questions about his future prospects.

Meanwhile, the head coach of the Indian team, Gautam Gambhir, made an important statement regarding the player selection process. He emphasized that his role is not to please everyone, but to make decisions that serve the interests of the entire team. Gambhir noted that in the age of social media, it is easy to make popular decisions, but the management's focus must remain on the correct strategic steps.

Before this match, Gautam Gambhir told Sky Sports that his duty is to make the right decisions, not to follow popular opinions. The Indian coach also hinted that talent alone is not enough to secure a spot in the team. He added that players who demonstrate good results over a long period need to be provided with sufficient opportunities and support. This is why a talented player like Vaibhavi has to wait his turn.

Gautam Gambhir stressed that the team possesses significant potential in the dressing room, but those who consistently show a high level of play should be given extended playing time. His statement is viewed in the context of the current squad, where the management continues to show confidence in the duo of Sandeep Samson and Abhishek Sharma.

India's squad for the fifth T20 included: Sandeep Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (as wicketkeeper-batsman), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Diar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy. New Zealand's squad for the fifth T20 consisted of: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (as wicketkeeper-batsman), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Devon Jackson, Michael Bresshaw, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy, and Blair Tickner.

The success of the Indian team is attributed not only to individual skill but also to the work of an extensive support team of about 16 people. In 1983, when India first won the One-Day International World Cup under Kapil Dev, the team did not have a modern staff of coaches, specialized doctors, physiotherapists, or analysts. At that time, players were accompanied only by team manager Peer Man Singh, who was responsible for all aspects of travel, accommodation, nutrition, and administrative matters.

However, over time, the game of cricket itself has changed, and the approach to preparing the Indian team has fundamentally transformed. Today, behind the 11 players on the field is an entire group of specialists, including coaches, doctors, physiotherapists, masseurs, and performance analysts. The BCCI shared a video demonstrating this modern composition of the Indian team before the fourth T20 International match in the New Zealand tour.

The main difference between the 1983 squad and the current Indian team lies not only in the availability of amenities but in the entire system of game preparation. In the past, players had to take to the field relying on mutual coordination, experience, and their own understanding under limited resources. Today, there is an expert for every area who deals with both the minute needs of the players and the analysis of opponents.

Previously, the focus of cricket was only on batsmen, bowlers, and the captain. After defeating an opponent, players were praised for their performance, and after a loss, their tactics were questioned. In modern cricket, player preparation goes far beyond net practice sessions for batting and bowling drills. Physical fitness, injury prevention, recovery, technique, strategy, and performance analysis have become equally important.

An example of this can be seen in the Indian tour of New Zealand. The BCCI released a video featuring coaches and support staff. This list includes key figures such as head coach Gautam Gambhir, as well as the medical team, physiotherapist, masseur, and performance analyst. There are a total of 17 names on the list, including members of the coaching staff.

This video shows that in international cricket today, it is not enough to simply possess talent to step onto the field. Behind the scenes, constant work is done to keep players fit throughout the tour, improve their preparation, and maintain their level of performance.

Alongside the head coach of the Indian team, Gautam Gambhir, the staff includes batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and bowling coach Morne Morkel. Siraj Batule serves as the spin bowling coach, and Subdip Ghosh is the fielding coach. Their responsibilities differ. The batting coach works on players' technique and shot selection, the bowling coach focuses on lines and bowling plans, and the fielding coach is responsible for improving catching, throwing, and overall mobility on the field.

Furthermore, Adrian Le Roux is the strength and conditioning coach. His task is related to increasing the physical readiness and fitness of the players. Since the role and needs of each player are unique, the training plan is tailored to these specific characteristics.

During long international tours, players have to travel constantly. Finding time for rest, training, and recovery between matches presents a serious challenge. Under such conditions, the role of the team's medical and physical personnel becomes critically important.

The list includes Dr. Charles Minj, chief physiotherapist Kamlesh Jain, and physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar. Nandan Maji and Chetan Kumar work in the team as masseurs. These specialists provide assistance according to the physical needs of the players, cooperate with the medical team in case of injuries, and help with recovery between matches. Nevertheless, the final decision regarding a player's injury or health status is made based on medical examination and team management processes.

The BCCI roster includes Dayanand Garanaie, Udenaka Nuwan, and Ravendra Dugi as assistant coaches. Sumit is the team operations manager, and Haji Mubassiruddin is the logistics manager, who are also part of this system. In any international tour, coordinated work between player preparation, travel, accommodation, training, and other organizational matters is crucial. Staff responsible for various tasks helps ensure the seamlessness of these processes, allowing players and coaches to concentrate on cricket.

The team's performance analyst, Hari Prasad Mohan, is also included in the list. In modern cricket, video material, statistics, and results analysis are used for strategy development. The role of data is constantly growing—from understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent to assessing the performance of one's own players.

The Indian tour of New Zealand is scheduled for 12 matches across all three formats. In such a long tour, the task of ensuring players' physical condition and...