“We can keep talking that we've got everything” - When Gautam Gambhir questioned India’s ability to handle pressure in crunch games
Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir was never one to hold back his thoughts during this playing and post-playing career. One such occasion was when he questioned India's ability to handle pressure in critical knockout games of multi-national tournaments four years back.
At that time, the side was still searching for an ICC title since the 2013 Champions Trophy in England. Gambhir said on 'Cricket Connected':
"We can keep talking that we've got everything, we have the ability to be the world champions, but till the time you don't go on the cricket field and prove that, you will never be called the world champions. It's just your ability in those crunch situations."
He added:
"In bilaterals and league stages you have got probably a chance to make the mistake, come to knockout stages, you don't have a chance to do that, you make a mistake and you're going back home. That's where belief comes into play and that's what India lacks in all those crucial games."
Gambhir was India's star with match-winning knocks in the final of their title runs in the 2007 T20 and 2011 ODI World Cups.
Yet, the former left-hander has struggled as India's coach. The side suffered an embarrassing 0-2 ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka before an even more disheartening 0-3 home Test series whitewash against New Zealand.
Team India finally overcame their ICC title drought in 2024 T20 World Cup
Team India overcame several ICC tournament heartbreaks to finally win the 2024 T20 World Cup title in the West Indies and USA.
After winning the inaugural edition in 2007, the Men in Blue came up short in the next seven T20 World Cups before the incredible run this year. Rohit Sharma's men ran the table, winning all eight games to become the first unbeaten side in a single T20 World Cup edition.
It was also their first World Cup title since the famous 2011 ODI World Cup triumph at home. Overall, India now boasts of four World Cup titles in their rich history - two each in ODIs (1983 and 2011) and T20Is (2007 and 2024).
Their first ICC tournament with Gautam Gambhir as head coach will be the Champions Trophy in February next year.