Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir opened his Delhi residence to the team for a special dinner on Sunday as the defending champions prepare for their crucial T20 World Cup clash against Namibia.
Videos shared by ANI showed Gambhir arriving at his home followed by batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and other members of the support staff. Even the Vice-President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rajeev Shukla turned up.
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A Gambhir Tradition
This isn’t the first time Gambhir has extended such hospitality to the Indian squad. During their last visit to the national capital, the head coach had hosted a similar gathering when India faced the West Indies in the second Test. The gesture reflects Gambhir’s commitment to building team unity and creating a family atmosphere within the squad as they navigate the pressures of a World Cup campaign.
Bouncing Back from a Shaky Start
India head into the Namibia fixture on the back of a hard-fought 29-run victory over the United States in Mumbai. Despite a stunning top-order collapse that left them reeling at 77 for six, captain Suryakumar Yadav’s magnificent unbeaten 84 off 49 balls rescued the defending champions and set up the win.
Suryakumar’s innings was a masterclass in crisis management at his home ground, the Wankhede Stadium. His knock featured 10 fours and four sixes as he almost single-handedly dragged India to 161 for nine after they were precariously placed at 128 for seven after 18 overs.
Siraj Steps Up in Bumrah’s Absence
Mohammed Siraj, who joined the squad late Friday evening as a replacement for an indisposed Jasprit Bumrah, made an immediate impact with the ball. He bowled with Test match discipline, claiming three wickets for 29 runs in four overs. His early strikes reduced USA to 13 for three in the fourth over, effectively ending their chase before it could gather momentum.
South Africa-born Shadley van Schalkwyk had earlier tormented India’s celebrated batting lineup with figures of four wickets for just 25 runs. Only Suryakumar seemed capable of reading the two-paced Wankhede pitch as wickets tumbled around him.
Eyes on Namibia
With the USA game behind them, India now turn their attention to Namibia, where victory would significantly strengthen their position in the race for the Super 8s. The team dinner at Gambhir’s residence serves as the perfect opportunity to reset mentally, address the batting concerns from the opening match, and build momentum heading into their second group-stage encounter.
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