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The countdown to India’s much-anticipated Test series against New Zealand has begun, and head coach Gautam Gambhir is making waves with his strong opinions. Just days before the first match, Gambhir called for a shift in India’s cricketing mindset. In a press conference, he urged fans and the team alike to move away from a “batting-obsessed” attitude. Cricket lovers, listen up—Gautam Gambhir is determined to make sure the bowlers get the credit they deserve.
Bowlers Are the Real Match-Winners
According to Gambhir, while India has long been obsessed with batting, it’s time to give the bowlers their moment in the sun. He praised the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja for their match-winning performances, emphasizing that it’s the bowlers who take 20 wickets and lead the team to victory.
“India has always been a nation that loves its batting, but it’s the bowlers who change the game. Look at Bumrah—he’s a game-changer in Test cricket,” Gambhir said. And with Bumrah being appointed as the vice-captain for the upcoming series, it seems Gambhir is backing his words with action.
Bumrah as Vice-Captain: A Smart Move
In a bold decision, Jasprit Bumrah has been named vice-captain for the three-match Test series against New Zealand. This choice speaks volumes about Gambhir’s belief in the impact of bowlers. While there’s no confirmation yet, fans are already buzzing about the possibility of Bumrah leading the team in future Test matches if Rohit Sharma misses out.
India, fresh from a series sweep against Bangladesh, will head into the series with both bat and ball firing. But it’s the bowlers, especially Bumrah, Ashwin, and Akash Deep, who Gambhir is counting on to crush New Zealand.
India vs New Zealand Test Schedule
Mark your calendars for this thrilling series:
1st Test: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 16-20 October 2024
2nd Test: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, 24-28 October 2024
3rd Test: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, 1-5 November 2024
All matches begin at 9:30 AM local time.
India’s Squad for the Series
Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
Travelling Reserves: Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mayank Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
Call to Action:
What do you think of Gambhir’s bold call? Should India’s bowlers get more recognition? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation!