Suryakumar Yadav revealed that the Indian players repeatedly tried to lighten the mood around head coach Gautam Gambhir during the T20 World Cup 2026, but they got what they were looking for only after the final.
Speaking after India’s win in Ahmedabad, the skipper said Gambhir’s intensity never waned during the tournament and kept the camp locked from the first to the last match.
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“We tried to make him laugh many times during the World Cup, but our games were so intense from the beginning to the final. But when we won the final, seeing that smile on his face, everyone was very happy,” Suryakumar told PTI.
Gambhir’s rare moment
It was an unusual sight. Never one to show emotion in public, Gambhir had the same fiercely competitive edge to coaching that defined his playing career. Smiles have been few and far between since taking charge and the coach has always projected an air of single-minded focus regardless of results.
But Victory at the World Cup in Ahmedabad He appeared to briefly let his guard down with one of cricket’s most intense characters. For a man who treats every game like a fight he can’t afford to lose, Sunday night offered something he rarely affords.
MS Dhoni, who was spotted in the VVIP box alongside Rohit Sharma and Jay Shah during the final, was quick to note the moment. The former Indian captain took to Instagram with a rare post that instantly sent the internet into a frenzy.
“Coach Sahab’s smile suits you. The intensity with the smile is a killer combination, very well done,” Dhoni wrote.
The post got a massive response and fans rejoiced at the rare sight of a more relaxed Gambhir after months of seeing him in full battle mode on the communication line.
For Gambhir, the result was a vindication of an uncompromising approach that at times divided opinion. He demanded intensity, got it from his players every step of the way, and now the world title can show it.
That smile, it turns out, was worth the wait.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
16 Mar 2026 11:52 IST
