India head coach Gautam Gambhir said that he generally prefers three-game Test series. Notably, the Indian team, under the leadership of Shubman Gill, is currently engaged in a two-game Test series. The first game saw the visitors record a 165-run win over Sri Lanka in Galle to go 1-0 up in the series. In the second game, both sides will be up at SSC in Colombo from Sunday, August 23. Ahead of the game, Gambhir addressed the media, speaking on multiple aspects, including the format of the series. The former opener said that he generally prefers a three-game Test series, considering the two-game series do not allow for full narratives to unfold.
Gambhir also opined that in such series, the teams don’t get an opportunity to bounce back from an early loss to take the series. "Ideally, I would want a three-match Test series," he told the media. "I've always believed that there should always be a possibility that a team losing the first Test match can come back and win the series. You can't do that in a two-Test series - the most you can do is draw the series,” he added. "A short turnaround between Tests is fine. Other teams are doing that as well."
Gambhir went on to give reference to the 2001 series against Australia where India lost at the Wankhede, but went on to win in Kolkata and Chennai. "I still remember that series, between India and Australia, where India was one down, and they still managed to come back, and win that series 2-1. Normally, if you have those three Test matches, it's always worth it,” the former cricketer said.
When you play five proper bowlers, someone will eventually bowl less: Gautam Gambhir on Kuldeep Yadav’s Workload in First Test
During the presser, Gambhir also spoke about Kuldeep Yadav’s workload and noted that the team’s dynamics and captaincy strategy dictate bowling spells over individual numbers. “When you play five proper bowlers, someone will eventually bowl less,” Gambhir said. “It’s not about someone not delivering; it’s about who the captain or management feels can be more threatening in that particular condition. My conversation with Kuldeep was just to try and bowl at his best rather than looking desperate to take wickets,” he also added.
Notably, during the first Test, Yadav ended up with only one wicket, conceding 65 runs. Apart from it, Gambhir also backed stroke-makers such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and said that aggressive young batters should curb specific scoring shots after getting out. “Don’t curb your shots, just get better at it,” Gambhir asserted. “If I start telling players to stop everything and talk about their dismissals, how are they going to score runs? If someone gets out pulling, rather than telling him not to pull, I would rather tell him to get better at it.”
