Gautam Gambhir has given his team a clear and firm message ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka and told them to 'tick all the boxes' if they are to come together as a team and fight for the victory in the upcoming two-match series as they play to reach the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final. The situation for India is getting tougher and harder and the series is now very much a must-win contest by now.
At 5th place now in the World Test Championship rankings India have four wins and four defeats with a PCT of 48.15. There are still games left in the WTC cycle but every victory from this point on will have a big impact. A series victory in Sri Lanka will ensure India’s place and then they will face another big test in the future against New Zealand.
Gambhir said ahead of the series that the team should aim for excellence in all areas of the game instead of just the individual brilliance. The head coach stressed the need to keep the standard high at the bat and ball in order for the team to execute its plan in all sessions of the game.
The two-Test series will test India's adaptability, with Sri Lankan conditions always favouring spin bowling and it is always expected to be patient with batters. In Sri Lanka, it is not easy for touring teams to dominate because of the slow pitch and humid weather and that is why Gambhir says India needs to be disciplined and be ready for different situations if they are to get the wins.
Since Gambhir has been appointed as the head coach of India, there has been mixed performance in the longest format of the game. India won home Test series victories against Bangladesh and the West Indies and have even had a couple of draws in England. However, they have also suffered bad performances against New Zealand and South Africa at home, as well as an away series loss to Australia.
The team has been under pressure at home as they struggle to place in the World Test Championship final. With so many top cricket teams in the race and more than a few teams in the final championship title race also in the Test series, the final two teams have to be on the field of play this week.
India's batting unit once again will be the one to take on the bulk of the responsibility during the Sri Lanka tour. The experienced players will be the key to the innings and the middle order will have to convert the start to the scores. Partnerships and patience will play the decisive role in the match when turning tracks.
The bowling attack is also hard at work. India’s pace bowlers will have to use the new ball to their full advantage in the middle of each innings before the spinners come to play. As Sri Lanka is used to the home soil environment, a consistent line and length while applying sustained pressure will be key.
Gambhir's focus on “ticking all the boxes” is part of a broader approach of full team performance rather than moments of brilliance. Fielding standards, fitness, tactical awareness as well as mental toughness will all be important as India tries to overcome a competitive Sri Lankan side.
The series will also be good preparation for India's tough schedule to come. India will also see New Zealand in another important Test match after the tour to Sri Lanka. Given New Zealand's home base, it is even more important that India have maximum points in Sri Lanka if it is to build WTC.
Cricket experts are confident that India has the talent and experience to be successful but also that consistency is the biggest challenge of the team. While individual performances in the last year have been quite good from individual players, the team has occasionally been unable to gain momentum over a whole Test match.
Gautam Gambhir knows the Sri Lanka series is a great opportunity in which India will be able to improve its position in World Test Championship rankings and will help boost the team's confidence going into the rest of the cycle. A good series victory would silence critics, develop belief in the team, and provide a much-needed boost for the challenging challenges to follow.
With qualification for the WTC Final hanging in the balance, the stakes could hardly be higher. India knows that a failure down the line in Sri Lanka would be the cause of difficulty in getting to the championship final. Gambhir’s message for the players as they prepare for the first Test will be clear to them: work collectively, perform consistently, and make sure that all aspects of the game play together to ensure that India’s World Test Championship dream is kept alive.
