India has been dominant at home, in fact, New Zealand last won a Test in India 1988, but Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir said that the hosts’ would not breezed over the Tom Latham led side and blamed their quality players who are capable of turning the tables and putting the visitors in the driving sitt every other point of a match.
“See, New Zealand is a completely different challenge. We know that they’re a very, very professional unit, have got some really high quality players who can hurt us, and can do the job for them as well,” Gautam Gambir said
’’So that’s how it is,’ he said,’ there is respect but there is no fear for any team. I’ve mentioned before that while respecting all opponents, there is no need to fear any. The attitude will be on doing one’s best without regard to self, being courteous, and going out to compete hard on the cricket pitch. Off the ground though, we will make an effort to be as modest as we can.”
“But it’s the first ball of the game that needs to be played in a very focused manner and that’s the role of the back up team to ensure the players are in that state of mind when we are batting first or bowling first and they try and be as professional as possible, try to keep the game moving and the results in our favor.”
“Any match be it New Zealand or Australia, we will play every match for the sake of the nation and not lose,” he added.
There are also other important matches lined up for India, such as the five-Test series tour to Australia next month, but Gambhir is looking at the series against New Zealand first.
“First of all the World Test Championship final is in June – 2025. Secondly, there is a test match in Australia which is on the 22nd of November. For now, it’s only New Zealand.”
“When you’re representing the country in international cricket, you can’t for the life of you figure out how to plan for the five Tests in Australia because right now the emphasis is on how to prepare for the 16th November at 0930. That takes priority because you don’t seem to focus on the future that much,’” he said.
Gambhir also said that the current time is more of a bowlers time than a batsmen’s time and it is time this nation’s most batsman loving approach is put to rest. “This is the era of the bowlers. Batters only set up the matches. It is quite essential that our batsman loving attitude comes to an end. It does not matter if the batters score 1000 runs, it does not guarantee that a team will win a Test match.”
“However, if a bowler bags 20 wickets, there is 99% assurance that the match will be won. This does not bring victory only in Test matches or in others, but in the tournaments. So I foresee and wish in this era or the next ones, the conversation will often be about bowlers as opposed to batters, and I wish that this perception changes with time.”
