The Indian cricket team, under new head coach Gautam Gambhir, has quickly shown its intent with a commanding performance in the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh. Taking over from Rahul Dravid, Gambhir’s strategy transformed the game into a thrilling display of aggressive cricket. This marked a significant departure from India’s conservative style in past Test matches, where defensive play and drawn results were common.
Tearing Apart the Old Template
Under Gambhir’s leadership, India brought a bold and aggressive style to the Test format. Known as a defensive team in the past, this new approach was on full display when India played Bangladesh in Kanpur. Despite heavy rain reducing the first three days to only 35 overs, India achieved a remarkable victory in the remaining two days.
Aggression in Batting and Bowling
India’s batting was particularly aggressive, adopting a T20-like mindset even in the Test match. In the first innings, Bangladesh was restricted to 233 runs, thanks to India’s sharp bowling attack. In response, India batted with an average of eight runs per over and declared at 285, gaining a 52-run lead. What stood out was that not a single maiden over was bowled by the Indian team during the entire match.
The Indian bowlers continued to dominate, taking quick wickets on the fourth and fifth days. Bangladesh’s second innings was wrapped up at just 146, leaving India with a simple target of 95 runs to chase, which they achieved without difficulty.
Rohit Praises Gambhir’s Leadership
After the match, India’s captain Rohit Sharma highlighted the differences between Rahul Dravid’s and Gautam Gambhir’s coaching styles. While praising Dravid’s tenure, Rohit admitted that Gambhir brought a fresh mentality to the team. He acknowledged how Gambhir’s aggressive mindset directly influenced the team’s approach to both batting and bowling. Rohit stated, “We had great times with Rahul bhai, but Gautam brings a new thinking. He encouraged us to push for a win even when conditions were tough.”
Ashwin’s All-Round Brilliance
Ravichandran Ashwin played a crucial role in India’s victory and was named the Player of the Series for his outstanding all-round performance. Ashwin credited Gambhir’s leadership for the team’s success, explaining how Gambhir motivated the team to aim for victory, even when the situation seemed difficult.
This match victory sets a new tone for India’s approach to Test cricket, with Gambhir’s leadership bringing an aggressive, result-oriented mindset to the team.
