Cricket / Gautam Gambhir Welcomes New Faces, Fires up Team for Sri Lanka Tests

Colombo, Aug 6: India head coach Gautam Gambhir has delivered a strong message to the Shubman Gill-led Test squad, urging them to be mentally and physically prepared to face challenges from the very first ball of the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15 in Galle.

The Indian team began its training at Colombo’s NCC ground on Wednesday morning and will play a three-day practice match at the same venue from August 7-9.

Following this, the squad will travel to Galle for the series opener, while the second and final Test will be staged at the historic Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo from August 23–27.

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In a motivational address shared by the BCCI on social media, Gambhir emphasized the importance of readiness and discipline.

“Guys, we know what's in front of us. We know what we are playing for. We can do the volume, we can push our limits, we can tick all the boxes. Come 15th morning, whether we are batting first, or whether we are bowling first, we're absolutely ready with every answer, every question that's thrown at us and every answer we're ready to give. So make sure we tick all the boxes from now on,” he said.

India currently stands fifth in the World Test Championship (WTC) table with a points percentage of 48.150, while Sri Lanka is placed sixth at 41.67. With both teams eager to climb higher, the series carries significant weight in the WTC race.

Gambhir also welcomed new faces into the squad. Off-spin all-rounder Saransh Jain and pacer Auqib Nabi, who played a key role in Jammu & Kashmir’s Ranji Trophy triumph, were officially introduced to the team. Additionally, newly appointed fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh was praised for his experience and energy.

“Guys, welcome everyone. We've got a couple of new guys in. To start with, Saransh, congratulations, you've worked extremely hard to be here. Secondly, I want to congratulate Auqib, you had a phenomenal last season, and made J&K win the Ranji Trophy, which is a great achievement. Lastly, I want to welcome Joy as well. He's worked with so many teams for so many years. I'm sure his passion, his commitment will carry this team forward,” Gambhir added.

With Gambhir’s rallying call, India’s preparations are focused on intensity, unity, and readiness as they aim to begin their Sri Lanka campaign on a strong note.

(IANS)