Gautam Gambhir [Source: @vicharabhio/x.com]
After a string of forgettable red-ball results, India finally pulled up their socks and delivered a statement win at Edgbaston, thrashing England by a mammoth 336 runs. And right when Indian head coach, Gautam Gambhir needed it the most, support has come from someone who is never known to mince his words: Yograj Singh.
Yograj Singh Backs Gautam Gambhir Amid Criticism
With the win in Birmingham, India not only levelled the five-match series 1-1 but also ended their hoodoo at Edgbaston. And Yograj Singh wasn’t having any of the backlash aimed at the head coach.
Speaking to ANI, the former India cricketer said,
“Indian players are consistently growing and improving their game. We will support them always. We should not speak about Gautam Gambhir because he is doing well.”
Yograj Singh also reminded fans that people like Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, and Rahul Dravid are only giving back to the game that made them who they are.
“Even if our team loses the series, we should not demoralise them. If you lose, you will not be there to explain; if you win, you don't have to explain. We hope that we win the series under the captaincy of Shubman Gill,” he added with a classic dose of cricket wisdom.
Before Shubman Gill’s men turned the tables in Birmingham, Gambhir’s red-ball strategy was under the scanner. India had lost seven of their last nine Tests. They were whitewashed by New Zealand at home, crushed in Australia 3-1 and then stumbled in Leeds with a five-wicket loss. Gambhir, hailed for taking India to T20 and ODI glory, hadn’t quite cracked the red-ball code yet.
But Edgbaston changed the script. India, under Gill’s youthful charge and with Gambhir’s gritty mindset backing them, batted England out of the contest and then bowled them out of their comfort zone.
The Next Frontier: Lord's Test
Now, with the series hanging in the balance, all eyes shift to the Mecca of cricket: Lord’s. A win there, and India takes the lead. More importantly, it’ll be another feather in Gambhir’s cap and perhaps, another silent answer to the doubters.
Gambhir’s journey as India’s red-ball coach is only getting started but as Edgbaston showed, he is not here to play it safe, he is here to make bold calls, take hits on the chin and bounce back swinging.