Gautam Gambhir Honors Dravid and Laxman After T20 World Cup Triumph
Gambhir Dedicates Trophy to Dravid and Laxman
After leading his team to victory in the T20 World Cup, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir dedicated the championship trophy to former head coach Rahul Dravid, who ended an 11-year trophy drought with the 2024 win. He also acknowledged VVS Laxman, the head of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, referring to it as a vital 'pipeline for Indian cricket'. India secured their third T20 World Cup title by defeating New Zealand by 96 runs, marking a historic achievement as the first team to defend the title and win it on home soil.
Gratitude for Support During Challenges
In a pre-match press conference, Gambhir expressed his gratitude towards ICC chairman Jay Shah, who was the BCCI secretary during the 2024 T20 World Cup. He noted that Shah was one of the few who reached out during his challenging times, particularly after India's Test series losses to New Zealand and South Africa. Gambhir emphasized the importance of Shah's trust in him, especially given his lack of prior coaching experience.
Praise for Players' Bravery and Aggressive Cricket
Gambhir credited the team's success to the players' professionalism and bravery throughout the tournament. He highlighted the shift in mindset, stating that the team aimed for higher scores rather than playing it safe with lower targets. He believed that adopting a 'high risk, high reward' approach was crucial in T20 cricket, asserting that they aimed for scores of 250 runs or more.
On Sanju Samson's Tactical Inclusion
Discussing the decision to include Sanju Samson in the playing XI after a disappointing series against New Zealand, Gambhir described it as a tactical move to diversify the batting order. He clarified that Samson was never out of form but needed a break to reset mentally. Gambhir praised the depth of the squad, which allowed for various combinations and strategies.
T20 World Cup Final: Match Summary
In the final match, New Zealand won the toss and chose to field first. Abhishek Sharma made a remarkable comeback with a record-breaking fifty (52 runs off 21 balls), forming a crucial 98-run partnership with Samson. Together, they propelled India past 200 runs, with Ishan Kishan contributing 54 runs. India finished with a total of 255/5, the highest score in T20 World Cup finals. In response, New Zealand struggled, with Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah taking key wickets, ultimately bowing out for just 159 runs.