Gautam Gambhir, the recently appointed head coach of the Indian squad, may not have a long coaching background or a strong resume, but it is undeniable and available to all that he has never held a coaching role before. But what really distinguishes Gambhir from his forerunners in the Indian system are his extraordinary willingness to take risks and his steadfast dedication to his beliefs. This trait has always been apparent, whether it is through his bold innings during his international career, his time leading the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, or his candid comments in podcasts and press conferences on a variety of topics both broadly and in relation to cricket.
There was an air of buoyant excitement in the camp prior to the T20I series against Sri Lanka. And why not, in this case? India was, after all, still reeling from their victory in the Americas T20 World Cup, a victory that would be remembered for many years to come. Still, one constant bothered everyone’s mind: the mystery surrounding the sixth bowling option and the occasionally used part-timers in international matches, even in dead-rubbers in different bilateral series that seemed insignificant.
Even though other clubs had long before dealt with and fixed this problem, it was unclear if Gambhir’s leadership would result in any big changes.
In the third Twenty20 International of the series, not only did Gambhir and company get off to an incredible start that resulted in a resounding rout of the Sri Lankans, but the previously mentioned problem was also magnificently handled. The Lankans needed nine runs to win consolingly, and with Khaleel and Siraj each having one over remaining to defend, Gambhir, using the wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant (who was rested for the match), sent a message.
Then something amazing happened: Rinku Singh, who had bowled in just six of the 134 Twenty20 matches he had played in, was brought into the attack. What was the result? Two important wickets were taken, including the formidable Kusal Perera, for three runs that were given up. The match was still very much in the balance, therefore it was believed that Siraj, the more economical bowler, would have to defend six runs in the last over. But when Suryakumar Yadav held the ball, fans were in for a surprise turn of events.
Rather of conferring with another bowler regarding field placements, Surya decided to bowl the last over. Rinku had a very low bowling % in T20s, but Surya’s was practically nonexistent, having bowled in just 11 of the 292 matches in which he had played.
After six deliveries, which felt endless because there were constant pauses between balls to discuss field placements between the sweating Indian team and the batters (two of whom had been removed, giving Surya a couple of wickets to stash in his kit bag), the match reached the Super Over after an incredible finish. Even seasoned bowlers would remember Rinku and Surya’s incredible achievement with pride and affection.
Even though it wasn’t quite as shocking as the other events, the Super Over itself turned out to be an unexpected development. More traditional coaches would have chosen a pacer who could produce a combination of accurate yorkers, trickier slower balls, and back-of-the-length variations, but Gambhir took a risk by going with Washington Sundar, an all-rounder who was, interestingly, playing in his first series match.
This bold move paid off as Sundar just gave up two runs while expertly mixing up his deliveries to get rid of two Lankan hitters and limit the opposition to just two runs. With a last flourish, the skipper gave the delighted visitors their well-earned victory.
The team, which included superstars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, was supposed to take part in their first practice session prior to the ODIs just one day before the thrilling game.
Unfortunately, the weather in the late afternoon was so bad that this session had to be cancelled. But today’s happenings have given us a peek of Gambhir’s cunning strategy. During a protracted net session, Shreyas Iyer was seen bowling a string of off-spinners, suggesting a possible change in tactics.
It seems that Gambhir is creating a unique pattern for the future with Riyan Parag’s all-rounder role becoming more prominent, as seen by his performance (3/62 in 9.2 overs) and the significant opportunities he had to bowl over the 20-over leg. This strategy might lead to more hitters taking on extra bowling duties in extreme circumstances, much like bowlers have historically contributed vital knocks in urgent necessity.
Also Read: Sri Lanka vs India, 1st ODI, Weather Forecast, and Pitch Report at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
When Rinku raced halfway to the dugout after taking his first of two wickets in the third and final Twenty20 international, Gambhir’s beaming expression suggested that the future was bright and full of possibilities.
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