Hardik Pandya Praises Suryakumar Yadav’s Captaincy as Gautam Gambhir Delivers Inspiring Speech
Gautam Gambhir and Hardik Pandya Laud T20I Skipper Suryakumar Yadav After India’s 3-0 Victory Over Sri Lanka
31.07.2024: Newly appointed India head coach, Gautam Gambhir, started his tenure with a resounding 3-0 T20I series win against Sri Lanka. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s exceptional captaincy was highlighted in a post-series dressing room speech given by Gambhir, with all-rounder Hardik Pandya also offering high praise for his Mumbai Indians teammate. The BCCI shared these heartfelt comments in a video on social media.
Gautam Gambhir’s Speech: “Guys, congratulations on a great series win. Congratulations to Surya as well, outstanding captaincy and more importantly with the bat as well. I asked for something before the start of the game and you absolutely delivered. This is what happens when you keep fighting and never give up. These kinds of games happen when we fight for every delivery and every run. This series win is an example of our improvement and determination.
We need to keep getting better at playing on different wickets, as we might encounter these conditions in future matches. We should quickly assess the situation and conditions to determine a par score. There is a lot to learn from this game, but overall, this is a great series win.”
Fitness Advice: Gambhir urged the players to maintain high fitness levels as they prepare for the upcoming series against Bangladesh. “Some of you will have a longer break if you’re not part of the 50-over format. You absolutely deserve it, but make sure when you come back for the Bangladesh series, your skills and fitness levels are high. You don’t want to come to that series thinking you can just turn up and deliver for the team. From a fitness point of view, ensure your levels are right up there. Congratulations once again. Hardik, wrap it up.”
Hardik Pandya’s Comments: Pandya also shared his thoughts, praising Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy and the team’s performance. “Well done! Batting first, we were challenged in difficult conditions. After losing early wickets, Shubman (Gill) and Riyan (Parag) batted brilliantly, creating a crucial partnership. Their situational awareness was vital and gave us a platform to reach a decent total, which our bowlers defended well. The lower order’s contribution, especially Washi’s (Washington Sundar) and Bishi’s (Ravi Bishnoi) runs, were very important.
As Gauti bhai mentioned, Surya, well done on rotating the bowlers and showing faith in them, especially in the last couple of overs. That was brilliant. The bowling group was fantastic, everyone chipped in. Washi, well done buddy. Winning games like this takes us forward. We are taking steps forward, and this was definitely a right step for the future. Well done to all the guys playing ODIs, kill it! Continue!”
Upcoming Series: India will now move on to the 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, although Suryakumar Yadav will not be part of the squad.