GAUTAM GAMBHIR PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER INDIA VS WEST INDIES SUPER 8 MATCH: FULL TRANSCRIPT
Q: How was it to see that match-winning innings, especially on a day it was most needed? How do you describe that from Sanju Samson?
Gautam Gambhir:
He’s a world-class player. We all know how good a player Sanju is, and it was all about backing him. When the team needed him the most, today was a day where he probably showed his true potential as well. Hopefully this is a time for him to kick off. Probably two more games to go, hopefully.
Q: A big part of the victory was how your team kept Shai Hope quiet in the powerplay. Could you describe the plan and the bowlers’ execution?
Gautam Gambhir:
I thought we started off really well. When you play a game of this magnitude, you’ve got to start really well with the new ball, and Arshdeep and Hardik, the way they started in the first three overs, was really good. Then Axar bowled two overs in the powerplay, which was again a great job done by him because it’s never easy on this wicket and ground to bowl two overs in the powerplay.
I thought we came out of the powerplay really well. The powerplay didn’t go away from us, which again was very important because once the powerplay goes away from you, it’s very difficult to contain after that. Once we had the powerplay in our hand, we were always in control of the game.
Q: Talk to us about Sanju’s footwork and the way he accelerated the innings.
Gautam Gambhir:
I actually thought he never accelerated the innings. It was just very normal cricketing shots. I never saw him muscling the ball. That is the kind of talent he has. When you know that you’re in control of the game and feeling good, he was hitting the ball really well in the nets. It was about going in the middle and showcasing that skill.
He knew that the wicket was very good, quick outfield as well. I’ve always said he’s a world-class player, a great talent. Hopefully he can kick off from now and we can see a lot more innings like this from Sanju.
The most important thing is that when you’re batting well in the nets, you start moving really well. The last innings against Zimbabwe was important. People will keep looking at scores, but coming back into the team and playing that kind of innings gave him a lot of confidence. He had a tough series against New Zealand, but we always knew the kind of potential he had. Most importantly, the way he was batting in the nets was absolutely brilliant.
I think we’ve got two guys now, Ishan and Sanju, who are really good friends and both can keep wickets as well. We’ve got really good guys for the future.
Q: What kind of conversations did you have with Sanju when he was not in the XI?
Gautam Gambhir:
I have conversations with everyone. The most important thing is the guys who are part of the squad are world-class players, and that’s why they’re representing the country. We always knew the talent that Sanju had. He has three T20 hundreds. Not many people have that.
He had a tough series against New Zealand. Sometimes it’s important to give him a break as well because you want to get the guy out of that pressure situation. We always knew that whenever we needed him in a World Cup game, he would deliver.
Against Zimbabwe, he delivered. We got the start we wanted in the first three overs. Today again, from where he left against Zimbabwe, he showcased his talent. This is what we expect from Sanju more consistently.
Q: What is your role in helping players deal with pressure and expectations around strike rates?
Gautam Gambhir:
Bilaterals are very different from World Cups. The pressure is different. The competition is different. The stakes are much higher.
In bilaterals, you have time to make a comeback, but in World Cups you don’t. People expect us to play the same brand of cricket as bilaterals, but you can imagine the pressure the boys go through. Most games are must-win games. Sometimes wickets can be tricky.
During bilaterals there was a lot of dew in the second innings, but we didn’t see much dew during this World Cup. It was not only about strike rates. It was about reading the game properly and reading the situation.
Even today, chasing 195, we never felt that we were out of the game. Never did we feel in 20 overs that the chase was away from us. The guys kept control. In bilaterals we might chase targets in 16-17 overs, but this is the World Cup. The pressure and quality are different.
Q: What conversations did you have at the mid-innings break while chasing 195?
Gautam Gambhir:
I’ve played a lot of games at Eden Gardens and seen many games here. It’s a great chasing ground. It’s probably the quickest outfield in the world at the moment.
A chase is never out of control till you have wickets in hand. You can chase anything on this ground. We saw that in the IPL where 260 and 270 were chased. We knew that if we had wickets in hand, we were always in control.
Partnerships are important irrespective of format. The partnership between Sanju and Surya settled the nerves. Those small partnerships play a massive role. Someone had to break the game. Tilak broke the game with that cameo, and Sanju batted till the end. It was a very clinical run chase.
Q: You’ve used Jasprit Bumrah differently in this tournament. What was the thinking today?
Gautam Gambhir:
It’s more to do with the opposition and where their firepower lies. West Indies have a lot of firepower in the middle with Hetmyer, Roston Chase and others. Those guys can take the game away from you.
We knew we needed someone like Bumrah in the middle. Hardik did a really good job because bowling against these guys on this wicket can be difficult for the fifth bowler. Hardik and Axar controlled the game for us. Those eight overs were very crucial.
We knew Arshdeep, Bumrah and Varun would bowl their four overs. Bumrah was important in the middle so whenever there was a big over, we could go back to him and control the game. You don’t want back-to-back big overs in T20 cricket. Bumrah is a banker, and we will continue to use him in different ways.
Q: Sanju never looked overawed by the occasion. Is that mental strength?
Gautam Gambhir:
It’s experience and mental strength. In big games, knockout games and World Cups, it’s all about mental strength. It’s not about skill. You don’t change skill in one week or two days.
It’s about how much pressure you can absorb. I’ve always believed that the guys who absorb pressure best will have the best chance to win this competition.
195 in a must-win game is never easy. Absorbing the pressure was the key.
Q: Do you think India is peaking at the right time?
Gautam Gambhir:
I don’t believe in peaking at the right time. You’ve got to win games when you represent your country. It’s as simple as that.
It’s a short tournament. You’ve got to try and win every game. You can’t take any opposition for granted.
When we play for the country, we represent 140 crore Indians. We want to turn up and win each and every game possible.
Q: How much of your decision-making is instinct versus data?
Gautam Gambhir:
I don’t believe in data. I honestly don’t even know what data is all about. I absolutely do not believe in it. It’s more about instinct.
T20 cricket is about instinct and backing your instinct. Whatever knowledge I have about the game, I try to give it to the captain and help him as much as possible. Ultimately, it’s the captain who takes the final call.
Data is overrated for me. We are fortunate to have world-class players. We can use bowlers like Bumrah, Arshdeep and Varun in any phase of the game.
From the batting point of view, we have power. When you have power, you’re never out of the chase. Players like Tilak have batted in different positions and delivered.
Positions are overrated. It’s about going out and doing the job for the team. That’s what team sport is all about, and that will continue to be our philosophy.
Q: Your thoughts on facing England in the semi-final?
Gautam Gambhir:
They’re a world-class team with quality players. Wankhede is a tough venue. It’s another opportunity to do something special for the country.
We need a special effort to beat a quality side like England.
Q: How important were contributions like Shivam Dube’s cameo?
Gautam Gambhir:
I’m glad you’re talking about every contribution because for too many years we’ve only spoken about certain contributions.
This is a team sport. Shivam’s two boundaries were as important as Sanju’s 97. If he hadn’t hit those two boundaries, that 97 wouldn’t have happened.
Big contributions make headlines. Small contributions help you win games. That is going to be the philosophy going forward.
