"He is very one-sided about the fact that we have to win" - Rishabh Pant on India's new head coach Gautam Gambhir
Team India's wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant felt current head coach Gautam Gambhir is very particular about winning and maintaining an aggressive approach. Gambhir replaced Rahul Dravid as India's head coach after the side's successful 2024 T20 World Cup title run.
Pant was part of the Indian side for Gambhir's first stint, which began with India recording a 3-0 series win in the Sri Lanka T20Is. However, the Men in Blue suffered a shocking 0-2 loss to the Lankans in the three-match ODI affair that followed the T20Is.
Speaking to Jio Cinema ahead of the 2024 Duleep Trophy opener, as quoted by India Today, Pant highlighted the difference between Gambhir and Dravid.
"Gauti bhai is more aggressive, he is very one-sided about the fact that we have to win. But you need to find the right balance, That’s the best part about international cricket, you keep on improving and finding the balance," said Pant.
"I feel Rahul bhai was very balanced as a human being and as a coach. For us, there were good moments and bad moments as a cricket team. In the journey of cricket, there are positives and negatives. And it depends on the individuals who are in charge of whether to focus on positives or negatives," he added.
Playing red-ball cricket for the first time since his horrific accident at the end of 2022, Pant had a rough resumption.
The 26-year-old, playing for India B, was dismissed for a 10-ball 7 in the first innings on Day 1 against India A.
"As the Indian cricket team, we focus solely on our own standards and how we can improve" - Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant admitted respecting all opposition teams but maintained that the Indian side focuses more on their own game and how they can improve when asked about the upcoming Bangladesh series.
After the sensational 2-0 Test series win in Pakistan, Bangladesh will tour India for a two-Test series, starting September 19.
"Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka perform well in Asian conditions because they are accustomed to the wickets. As the Indian cricket team, we focus solely on our own standards and how we can improve. Regardless of the opposition, we strive to play with the same intensity and give our 100 percent every single day," said Pant.
India has a series of Tests coming up, starting with the Bangladesh series, followed by three home Tests against New Zealand and the marquee Border Gavaskar Trophy, which includes five Tests in Australia.