Gautam Gambhir said he relies primarily on his instinct when making decisions as a coach, stressing that he backs his judgement without depending heavily on data.

Gambhir noted that every leader brings a unique vision and his approach on how the Indian team plays, conducts itself and operates reflects his personal philosophy during his tenure. “I think my instinct is what I trust the most. I don’t look at data, I don’t look at anything else. If my instinct says that it is the right call for the team, I will back it to the hilt. If it doesn’t work, I’ll be the first one to put my hand up and say, yes, it didn’t work.”

““Everyone has different ways of looking at things. My idea, with me being the head coach now, is my vision for the team. It could be completely different to someone who has run the show before me or some one who will run the show after me,” said Gambhir.

No tailoring pitches

Gambhir dismissed the criticism that Indian wickets were ‘tailored’ to suit the home team, asserting that such claims are often made to create controversy and attract views. “I don’t agree to that. Why would you tailor something? And honestly, India is too good a team to be even thinking about something like that and in the T20 format, whether you look in Australia or South Africa, we made 200 runs. If we make 200 runs in India, then the wickets get tailored.”

“I think some people want to create a controversy. That’s why I say, the statements given for views and TRPs should not be acceptable,” he added.

“In ICC tournaments, they control the wickets. It’s not the BCCI that controls the wickets, and in bilaterals, especially in the T20 format, it is a batter’s game. No one wants to come and watch a 120-run T20 game. Everyone wants to watch that high-scoring game.”

Gambhir lauded Suryakumar Yadav as a ‘phenomenal leader’. “I think he’s made my life a lot easier in this format because the way he keeps the atmosphere really light, handles the boys and has conversations with them, I think that is fantastic quality to have because then some one like me can focus on the tactical things.”

“Surya and I worked together for a long time when I was captain with KKR, and he was the vice captain. So I know how he operates,” he said.

Sanju Samson on Sunday (March 8, 2026) attributed his phenomenal success in the business end of India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign to his “big conversations” with Sachin Tendulkar, saying he had been in constant touch with the batting great for last two months.

Samson was adjudged the Player of the Tournament for his explosive knocks in the last three matches of the event, including the semifinal against England and the final against New Zealand.

“For the last couple of months, I have been in constant contact with Sachin sir. I reached out to him and had big big conversations with him. Getting a guidance from someone like him, what more can you ask for?”

“I am very grateful for everyone who supported me,” Samson said India’s 96-run win in the title clash in which he top-scored with a scintillating 89.

Samson, who was struggling prior to the World Cup, added, “Feels like a dream. Very happy and grateful. Out of words, out of emotions.”

“To be honest, it started one-two years before. When I was in the 2024 World Cup team where I didn’t play, I kept visualising, kept on working and this was exactly what I wanted to do. After the New Zealand series I was broken, my dreams were completely shattered.”

“And I was thinking what can I do. But God had different plans. And I was rewarded for being brave enough to dream. A lot of former players have reached out to me and tried to help me out.”

Asked what more does he want to achieve, the wicketkeeper-batter said, “This itself is very big for me, I want to enjoy it right now and then after a few days will figure out what more to do.”

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday (January 17, 2026) asked the ICC to swap its national team with Ireland in Group C during the upcoming T20 World Cup in order to play in Sri Lanka instead of India.

Bangladesh is currently placed in Group C along with the West Indies, Italy, England, and Nepal and is scheduled to play their matches in Kolkata and Mumbai.

Ireland is in Group B alongside Sri Lanka, Australia, Oman, and Zimbabwe and their matches are scheduled in Colombo and Pallekele.

The two-member ICC team, consisting of Gaurav Saxena, General Manager, Events and Corporate Communications, and Andrew Ephgrave, General Manager, Integrity Unit, was in Dhaka to convince BCB about the security arrangements in India and to follow the original schedule.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today held a meeting with representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to discuss matters relating to Bangladesh’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026,” said the BCB in a release after the meeting with ICC delegates.

Mr. Ephgrave attended the meeting in person but Mr. Saxena joined virtually after he failed to secure a Bangladesh visa in time.

“During the discussions, the BCB reiterated its formal request to the ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka. The Board also shared the Bangladesh Government’s views and concerns on safety and security of the team, Bangladeshi fans, media and other stakeholders,” the BCB added.

From the BCB’s side, President Mohammad Aminul Islam, Vice Presidents Md Shakawath Hossain and Faruque Ahmed, Director and Chairman of Cricket Operations Committee Nazmul Abedeen and Chief Executive Officer Nizam Uddin Chowdhury attended the meeting.

However, it is learnt that the ICC is reluctant to accept Bangladesh’s demand, considering the logical constraints and the enormous changes to the itinerary to be made deep into the tournament.

Bangladesh has been asking the global governing body to relocate its World Cup matches, scheduled to be held in Kolkata and Mumbai, on the pretext of a perceived security threat to its players.

The BCB raised this demand after national team pacer Mustafizur Rahman was abruptly delinked from his IPL contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders following a BCCI directive.

The BCB indicated that more dialogue will follow soon to find an amicable solution to the impasse.

“The discussions were conducted in a constructive, cordial and professional manner, with all parties engaging openly on the relevant issues.

“Among other points, the possibility of moving Bangladesh to a different group as a means of facilitating the matter with minimum logistical adjustments was discussed. The BCB and the ICC have agreed to continue engaging in constructive dialogue on this matter,” it noted.