January 2, 2025: India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir shared some insightful thoughts ahead of the final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against Australia, stating that there has been just one key conversation with the senior players — Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and others — and it revolves around how to win the upcoming Sydney Test.
After Australia’s commanding 184-run victory in the Melbourne Test, which gave them a 2-1 lead in the series, India’s chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final were dashed. However, Gambhir remained calm and optimistic about his squad’s approach as they head into the final match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 3.
In the pre-match press conference, Gambhir was asked about the conversation with senior players, to which he responded, “There has been only one conversation, and that is how to win the next Test match. Apart from this, no other conversation took place. We all know how important the next Test match is.”
Gambhir expressed his confidence in the team’s overall performance, highlighting that despite the loss in Melbourne, India’s batting and bowling had not let them down so far. He pointed out that the series could have been in a far worse position had the team not performed decently. “Everything is under control. If our batting and bowling hadn’t done well, we wouldn’t have been 2-1 in the series. We could’ve been in a worse situation. I don’t think there’s something worrisome,” he added.
The head coach’s comments indicate that the team is focused on the present and not bogged down by the previous defeat. The priority now is on the Sydney Test, which will be a crucial fixture for India. With both sides having shown their mettle throughout the series, the final match is expected to be a hard-fought battle.
As for the team composition, Gambhir confirmed that Akash Deep will miss out on the Sydney Test due to a back injury, but otherwise, the squad is ready for the final showdown.
As Gambhir stated, the final Test is critical, and India’s focus is solely on securing a win to finish the series on a high. With a strong squad at their disposal and the senior players’ leadership, India will be aiming for an inspired performance in Sydney to end the series on a positive note.
