October 23, 2024: After India’s unexpected defeat against New Zealand in the first Test in Bengaluru, head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the situation, providing a candid assessment of what went wrong and focusing on the positives moving forward.
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India’s first innings saw them bundled out for a mere 46 runs, and despite the challenging conditions, Gambhir pointed out that the team was still in a mindset to win.
Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, who admitted to misjudging the pitch after choosing to bat first, India faced an uphill battle after their early collapse. Although the home side lost by eight wickets, Gambhir emphasized that the team was only about 100 runs short of setting up a competitive match in the second innings.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference before the second Test in Pune, Gambhir reflected on the positives from the loss, stating, “If we enjoy days like we did in Kanpur, then we have to accept days that we face in Bengaluru.” He praised the team’s attitude in the second innings, where India tried to make a match out of it, focusing on securing either a win or a draw despite the poor start. Gambhir’s remarks underline a resilient mindset, saying, “I feel we were 100 runs shy of setting up the match.”
Although the defeat slightly dented India’s dominance, with their World Test Championship percentage dropping to 68.06%, they remain on top of the standings. With two more Tests against New Zealand and a critical five-match series against Australia later in the year, India is determined to get back to winning ways. Gambhir’s focus on positivity and planning for the future sets the tone for a more cautious approach in the remaining matches to prevent the series from slipping away.
