AHMEDABAD: India is celebrating after defeating New Zealand to retain the ICC Men's T20 World Cup title. As the celebrations continue, head coach Gautam Gambhir has spoken about the team's plans for the future.
Gambhir said India will begin preparations for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup after the IPL season. The tournament will be hosted by South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. He noted that playing in South Africa will be challenging because of the bouncy pitches.
According to Gambhir, the team management will focus on identifying players who can perform well in such conditions and finalise the right team combinations. He shared these views while speaking to a national media outlet.
"Playing cricket in South Africa is not easy. We need to identify players who can perform well in those conditions. We must also get a clear idea about the right team combinations. The selectors and coaching staff will work together on this. By the time the IPL ends, India will have a clear plan for the 2027 ODI World Cup," Gambhir said.
Gambhir also responded to questions about unity within the team. He said he would not continue as coach if most players in the team were unhappy with him.
"My approach is very simple. If the majority of the players in the team do not like me, there is no point in me staying in that dressing room. If they are comfortable with me, it means I am doing my job properly," he said.
He also dismissed rumours about problems inside the team. "If you report things honestly, you will understand what the atmosphere in the team is like. With so many cameras and media attention, nothing about the Indian team can be hidden. Claims that the situation inside the team is bad are baseless. Neither the captain nor I need to respond to such allegations. If you observe our travels, practice sessions and player interviews, you will clearly understand how things are within the team," Gambhir added.