Gautam Gambhir's unwavering stance on India's high-risk cricket under his leadership: 'Why do we need to hold back?'

Head coach Gautam Gambhir has implemented a bold and aggressive approach for Team India since taking the helm. The Test and T20I teams have shown a new level of intensity and fearlessness under Gambhir's leadership. Setting aside caution, the team has embraced high-risk cricket, prioritizing results above all else. Gambhir's coaching philosophy emphasizes freedom and self-expression for the players on the field. This was evident in the recent match against Bangladesh in Kanpur, where India managed to secure a victory despite adverse weather conditions causing a significant loss of playing time. From the onset of the match, India displayed an attacking mindset, achieving records for the fastest 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 in Test cricket during their first innings. This aggressive approach has reinvigorated the team and brought about positive results early in Gambhir's coaching tenure.

Ahead of the three-match Test series against New Zealand, Gambhir has made it very clear that India will continue to play high-risk cricket.

"Why do we need to hold on to people? If they can play the natural game, if they can get 400-500 runs in a day, why not? We will play it that way -- high risk, high reward, high risk, high failure," Gambhir told reporters ahead of the New Zealand Tests that starts on Wednesday.

"There will be days when we'll get bundled out for 100 and we'll take it up then. But we'll continue to back our players to go out there and play high risk cricket. That's how we want to keep the game going forward and get the results in whatever situation we are in," he added.

However, Gambhir quickly dispelled the notion of playing the game with blinkers, saying "adaptability" will also remain important for his side.

"I had said in Chennai that we want to be a team that can make 400 runs in a day and bat for two days to draw. That's called growth.

"That's called adaptability and that's called Test cricket. If you play the same way, then it's not growth," he explained.

‘Draw is the second or third option’: Gambhir

Gambhir further asserted that Team India has players who can bat for two days to save the match, but a draw won't be their first option, and if there's a chance of winning a match, then they will give it a shot.

"We have a lot of individuals in the dressing room who can bat for two days. So, ultimately, the first motive is to win the match. If we're in a situation where we have to play for a draw, then that's the second or the third option.

"We don't want to play any other type of cricket. We want people to go out there and play the natural game," he detailed.

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