India head coach Gautam Gambhir remained defiant despite trailing England 1-2 after the 4th Test match of the series. Speaking at the India House in London, Gambhir claimed that the quality of cricket in the England vs India series would have made everyone proud.
India escaped with a draw in the Manchester Test match despite being in a precarious position on Day 4 and Day 5. The Indian team conceded a mammoth 669 runs against England in the Test, and had to put in a heroic second innings performance to eke out a draw. Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar hit hundreds as India remained alive in the Test series.
“Touring this part of the world has always been challenging because of the history between the two countries, which can never be forgotten,” said Gambhir during his speech at the India House in London.
“Whenever we have toured the UK, the kind of support we have got, we cherish every bit of it. We never take anything for granted,” he added.
Indian Team Has Made Everyone Proud
Gambhir claimed that the performances by Shubman Gill’s Indian team over the last 5 weeks in England have made every cricket lover proud. Notably, the Indian team started with a loss in Headingley, won in Birmingham and then lost again in Lord’s. India’s fielding standards have been heavily criticised in the ongoing series and Gambhir’s team selection has been scrutinised as well.
“Last five weeks have been really exciting for both countries with the kind of cricket that has been on display, which I’m sure has made every cricket lover proud,” Gambhir said.
The Indian cricket team received a rousing welcome from community leaders, parliamentarians and sports fans at a diaspora reception hosted by the High Commission of India in London, where the squad is set for the fifth and final Test.
He went on to highlight the importance of the fifth and final Test, which India needed to win to level the series that now stands 2-1 in favour of England.
“Both the teams have thrown a lot of punches and have fought for every inch. We have got one more week to go, one final push to make and one more opportunity to make our country and people out here proud,” said Gambhir.
The final Test match of the series starts on Thursday, July 31. India will hope to win the final game and level the series.
Sanjay Manjrekar Slams Gambhir
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has been under fire from pundits for his team selections in this series.
The criticism has stemmed from Gambhir’s affinity for choosing all-rounders over specialists. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar even argued that India’s success in the series owes more to the players’ resilience than Gambhir’s tactics.
“India have performed well despite some of his tactical missteps. Let’s not forget: India were swept 3-0 at home by New Zealand, who then lost comfortably to Australia. The fight we’ve seen? That’s the players’ grit. Tactically, Gambhir hasn’t always made it easier, particularly with selections. And to suggest that Karun Nair ‘wasn’t dropped’… come on. You guys see it as a drop, for them it’s about ‘picking the right team’,” Manjrekar said on the broadcast after the conclusion of the 4th Test.
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