Gautam Gambhir Eyes Fresh T20 Approach
Gautam Gambhir shifted focus to India’s T20I assignments after the England tour, stressing the need to rebrand the team with modern-day specialists.
Following a successful tour of England, India head coach Gautam Gambhir has turned his attention to the shortest format, with the Asia Cup starting next month. The former opener has always shown strength in T20 cricket, both as a player and as a coach. His credentials speak for themselves—he led Kolkata Knight Riders to back-to-back IPL titles over a decade ago and, in a new role as mentor, helped the franchise secure its third crown last year. Even before stepping into the head coach’s shoes, Gambhir often highlighted the importance of IPL performances when selecting the T20I squad. As he prepares for the Asia Cup and the upcoming series against Australia and South Africa, the same approach is expected to shape his decisions.
According to The Times of India, Gambhir is determined to rebrand the T20 side, which has often been criticised for not adapting to modern demands. “The chatter in Indian cricket is that he would prefer an all-format captain soon to build a common culture. Gambhir has been very clear with his vision. He walked in with an idea to rebrand the T20 team. India have often been accused of not being able to move with the times in the shortest format. Gambhir has decided to address it with players who can be branded as T20 specialists,” the report said.
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The report also added that the concept of designated finishers no longer exists in the dressing room, with players’ roles now assigned according to their skills. “There’s no room for getting comfortable. Roles are assigned as per skills, not batting numbers. He is comfortable with this facet of a modern-day T20 cricketer,” the report said.
The new approach is already visible in player preferences. “Shivam Dube, for one, will always get preference since he can go up the order and blast the bowling if the openers get off to great starts. There are no designated finishers,” it further read.
With the Champions Trophy triumph and a positive England tour behind him, Gambhir seems to have set the tone for India’s T20 future. The upcoming assignments will test his vision, especially with the T20 World Cup defence at home only a few months away.
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Last Updated on August 17, 2025
