As the T20 World Cup 2026 inches closer, Team India`s head coach Gautam Gambhir said that the “Men in Blue” are not where the team wants to be when it comes to preparing for the global showpiece. He also said that the side has three months to get there.
Speaking on the bcci.tv, the head coach said that the dressing room has been transparent and honest.
“It has been a very transparent dressing room, it has been a very honest dressing room, and that is how we want this dressing room to be. I think we still aren`t where we want to be come the T20 World Cup,” he said.
“Hopefully guys know the importance of being fit. We still have three months to be where we want to be,” added the head coach.
The T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka in February and March. The “Men in Blue” will enter the marquee event as the defending champions, having won the title in 2024.
He reiterated his philosophy of handing out tough assignments to individuals to understand the depth of their character.
“Throw guys in the deep sea, as simple as it can get. We did the same with Shubman (Gill) as well when he was appointed as Test captain,” said Gambhir.
Gill pulled off an inspired batting performance in his maiden Test series, against England, as captain. The Indian team under him drew the series 2-2 after every match stretched to the fifth day, with fortunes oscillating wildly throughout.
The side recently concluded the Australia series and will now engage in the two-match Test series against South Africa. After the Test series, both teams will also play the white-ball series.
The first Test match between India and South Africa has been scheduled to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata from November 14. The second game will be played from November 22 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati.
India’s Test squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK) (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep.
South Africa squad for India tour: Temba Bavuma (C), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne.
(With PTI Inputs)