[Watch] "We need to still get better on playing on wickets like these - Gautam Gambhir delivers dressing room speech after IND vs SL T20 series
Gautam Gambhir's stint as Team India's head coach kicked off with a 3-0 whitewash over Sri Lanka in the recently concluded T20I series. India beat Sri Lanka in the Super Over after a tied third T20I at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Tuesday, July 30.
Addressing the team in the dressing room after the series win, Gambhir lauded Suryakumar Yadav for his impressive captaincy and batting performances. He also praised the Indian team for fighting right till the end despite having just 138 runs to defend.
The video of Gambhir's speech was shared by the BCCI on its official social media handles. He said:
"Guys, congratulations on a great series win. Congratulations to Surya as well, outstanding captaincy, and more importantly with the bat as well. Guys, I asked for something before the start of the game and you absolutely delivered it."
While Gambhir congratulated the Men in Blue on the series victory, he suggested that the team needed to show some improvement while playing on such spin-friendly pitches, adding:
"We keep getting, we keep improving our skills as well because we need to still get better on playing on wickets like these because we might end up getting these kind of wickets. So, we should first assess the situation and conditions really quickly, and what is the par score as well. There is a lot of learning from this game but more important than not this is a great series win."
Washington Sundar was adjudged the Player of the Match in the third T20I. He chipped in with a useful 25-run cameo and registered bowling figures of 4-0-23-2. The crafty spinner also bagged two wickets in the Super Over.
"Keep your skills and especially your fitness levels high" - Gautam Gambhir's message to India players who aren't part of the squad for ODI series against Sri Lanka
India and Sri Lanka will now square off against each other in a three-match ODI series. Gautam Gambhir mentioned that players who aren't part of the squad for the 50-over matches deserve to take a break.
He, however, emphasized the importance of focussing on fitness during the break, remarking:
"Make sure when you come back for the Bangladesh Series, you can take a break, you absolutely deserve it. But more importantly, keep your skills and especially your fitness levels high. You don't want to come for that series thinking that, okay, I can just turn up and probably deliver for the team."
The first ODI of the series between India and Sri Lanka will be played at R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday, August 2.