GAUTAM GAMBHIR’S PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER WEST INDIES VS WEST INDIES SUPER 8: FULL TRANSCRIPT
Q: What was it like to see the winning innings, especially on a day when it was needed the most? How to describe it from Sanju Samson?
Gautam Gambhir:
He is a world class player. We all know what a good player Sanju is and it was all about supporting him. When the team needed him the most, today was the day he probably showed his true potential as well. Hopefully it’s time for him to start. Hopefully we have two more games to go.
Q: A big part of the win was how your team silenced Shai Hope on the power play. Could you describe the plan and execution of the pitchers?
Gautam Gambhir:
I thought we started really well. When you play a game of this magnitude, you have to start really well with the new ball and Arshdeep and Hardik, the way they started in the first three overs, they were really good. Then Axar bowled two overs in the over which again was a great job by him as it is never easy with this wicket and he bowled two overs in the over.
I thought we came out of the power play really well. We didn’t lose the powerplay, which again was very important because once the powerplay goes away from you, it’s very hard to handle after that. Once we had the power play in our hands, we were always in control of the game.
Q: Talk to us about Sanju’s footwork and the way he has quickened the innings.
Gautam Gambhir:
I actually thought he never quickened his innings. They were just very ordinary cricket shots. I’ve never seen him drop the ball. That’s the kind of talent he has. When you know you’re in control of the game and you feel good, he hit the ball really well. It was about going into the middle and showing that skill.
He knew the wicket was very good and fast too. I’ve always said he’s a world-class player, a great talent. Hopefully he can start from now on and we can see many more such innings from Sanju.
Most importantly, when you hit the nets well, you start to move really well. The last innings against Zimbabwe was important. People will still look at the score, but coming back into the team and playing innings like that has given him a lot of confidence. He had a tough series against New Zealand but we always knew his potential. Most importantly, the way he hit the net was absolutely brilliant.
I think we have two guys now, Ishan and Sanju, who are really good friends and both of them can also keep wickets. We have really good guys for the future.
Q: What conversations did you have with Sanju when he was not in the XI?
Gautam Gambhir:
I interview everyone. The most important thing is that the guys who are part of the team are world-class players and therefore represent the country. We always knew what talent Sanju had. He has three T20 hundreds. Few people have that.
He had a tough series against New Zealand. Sometimes it’s important to give him a break as well because you want to get a guy out of that pressure situation. We always knew that whenever we needed him in a World Cup game, he would do it.
He came through against Zimbabwe. We had the start we wanted in the first three overs. Today again, where he left off against Zimbabwe, he showcased his talent. This is what we expect from Sanju more consistently.
Q: What is your role in helping players cope with the pressure and expectations of strike rates?
Gautam Gambhir:
Bilateral matches are very different from the World Cup. The pressure is different. The competition is different. The stakes are much higher.
In bilaterals you have time to come back, but not in World Cups. People expect us to play the same brand of cricket as a bilateral, but you can imagine the pressure the boys are under. Most games must win. Sometimes goals can be tricky.
In the bilateral matches, there was a lot of dew in the second innings, but we didn’t see much dew during this World Cup. It wasn’t just strike rates. It was about reading the game correctly and reading the situation.
Even today, chasing 195, we never felt like we were out of the game. We never felt like the chase was giving up on us for 20 steps. The boys kept themselves under control. In bilaterals, we might chase targets in 16-17 overs, but this is the World Cup. Pressure and quality are different.
Q: What conversations did you have at the mid-innings break when you were chasing 195?
Gautam Gambhir:
I’ve played a lot of games at Eden Gardens and I’ve seen a lot of games here. It’s a great hunting ground. It is probably the fastest outfield in the world right now.
The chase never gets out of control until you have wickets in hand. You can chase anything on this land. We saw that in the IPL where 260 and 270 were being chased. We knew that when we have wickets in hand we are always in control.
Partnerships are important regardless of format. The partnership between Sanju and Surya calmed the nerves. These small partnerships play a huge role. Someone had to interrupt the game. Tilak broke the game with this cameo and Sanju batted till the end. It was a very clinical chase.
Q: You used Jasprit Bumrah differently in this tournament. What was today’s thought?
Gautam Gambhir:
It is more about the opposition and its firepower. West Indies have a lot of firepower in the middle with Hetmyer, Roston Chase and others. Those guys can take your game away.
We knew we needed someone like Bumrah in the middle. Hardik has done a really good job as bowling against these guys on this wicket can be difficult for a fifth bowler. Hardik and Axar managed the game for us. The eight odds were very crucial.
We knew that Arshdeep, Bumrah and Varun would bowl their four overs. Bumrah was important in the middle, so whenever there was a big over, we could go back to him and control the game. You don’t want big turnovers in T20 cricket. Bumrah is a banker and we will continue to use him in various ways.
Q: Sanju never seemed overwhelmed by this opportunity. Is it psychic power?
Gautam Gambhir:
It’s experience and mental strength. It’s all about mental strength in the big games, the knockout games and the World Cup. It’s not about skill. You don’t change an ability in a week or two.
It’s about how much pressure you can absorb. I’ve always believed that the guys who absorb the pressure the best will have the best chance of winning this competition.
195 in a must-win game is never easy. The key was to absorb the pressure.
Q: Do you think India is peaking at the right time?
Gautam Gambhir:
I don’t believe in peaking at the right time. When you represent your country, you have to win games. It’s that simple.
It’s a short tournament. You have to try to win every game. You cannot take any opposition for granted.
When we play for the country, we represent 140 million Indians. We want to show up and win every game possible.
Q: How much of your decision-making is instinct versus data?
Gautam Gambhir:
I don’t believe in data. I honestly don’t even know what the data is about. I absolutely do not believe that. It’s more about instinct.
T20 cricket is about instinct and supporting your instinct. Whatever knowledge I have of the game, I try to give it to the captain and help him as much as I can. Ultimately, it is the captain who takes the final call.
Data is overrated for me. We are lucky to have world class players. We can use bowlers like Bumrah, Arshdeep and Varun at any stage of the game.
From a batting point of view, we have strength. When you have power, you never get out. Players like Tilak batted at different positions and delivered.
Positions are overvalued. It’s about going out there and doing the job for the team. That’s what team sport is all about and that will continue to be our philosophy.
Q: How do you feel about facing England in the semi-finals?
Gautam Gambhir:
It is a world class team with quality players. Wankhede is a tough place. It is another opportunity to do something special for the country.
We need a special effort to beat a quality team like England.
Q: How important were contributions like Shivam Dube’s cameo?
Gautam Gambhir:
I’m glad you talk about every post because for too many years we’ve only talked about certain posts.
It is a team sport. Shivam’s two boundaries were as important as Sanju’s 97. Had he not hit those two boundaries, the 97 would not have happened.
Big posts make headlines. Small contributions help you win games. That will be the philosophy for the future.
