Colombo, Aug 22 (PTI) India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Saturday championed the cause of three-match Test series, stressing that two-match rubbers put undue pressure on the team that loses the first match.
India and Sri Lanka are currently engaged in a two-match series with the Shubman Gill-led side holding a 1-0 lead after its 165-run victory at Galle.
“Ideally, I would want a three Test match series. I’ve always believed that there should always be a possibility that a team that loses in the first Test should have the chance to come back,” Gambhir said in the pre-match press conference.
“Sometimes what happens is, in a two-Test match series, if you lose the first Test match, there is no chance for the other team to come back and win the series. The maximum you can do is to try and draw the series,” he added.
“I still remember that series, between India and Australia (2001), where India was one down, and they still managed to come back, and win that series 2-1.”
Often, the two Test series also offered minimum turnaround time, but Gambhir was fine with it.
“Short turnaround…that’s fine. Other teams are doing that as well. As a professional cricketer, we know how to manage our bodies. That’s why there are days when we give players optional practices.
“As we all know, in these conditions, the seniors may find it tough and so we try to manage it. As I said, ideally, I would want a three Test match series rather than a two Test match series,” he said.
Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal made an instant impression, and Gambhir was chuffed for them.
“Extremely satisfying because you get those younger players coming in and delivering straight away. But again, there is still a lot of work to be done. You can’t judge players by only one or two performances.
“We want to see that they are not only well-qualified but involved as well (with the team). One of them coming in and delivering in most of the Test matches. But again, as I said, judging players by only one or two matches is not going to be fair.”
Padikkal made a match-defining 167 in the first Test, while Suthar, who was playing only his second Test, grabbed a 10-wicket match haul at Galle.
“We want to see them along the road and at the same time, we keep having this faith because there will be ups and downs. We know how tough Test cricket is and how hard it is.”
The arrival of these young names, Gambhir, has added to the depth of the squad.
“I think, someone getting an opportunity, and making the most of it, is a good thing. We keep talking about the depth and the more depth we have, the more competitive it is. It’s not a bad thing, because, when you have competition, you want people to keep getting better, as well.
“And, the prime example is, Dev, he got an opportunity, he made most of it and that’s what we expect the players to do. Manav…when he got the opportunity, when he made his debut against Afghanistan, it was a big series for him, but he put his hands up. There are other talented guys playing as well like Sai (Sudharsan), who’s going to be part of this group. So, which is again, good. The more depth, the better,” he noted.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been getting out repeatedly to cut shots, but Gambhir found it nothing alarming.
“If I start telling players to curb their shots, if I start talking about the dismissals or whatever shots they play, how will they score runs? Everyone has got their own shots to score runs. But I can see if you are getting out on a particular shot, rather than just curbing it up, just get better at it. That is how I look at it.
“For example, if someone is getting out pulling, rather than telling him not to pull, how would I tell him to get better at it? And that is how I see the sport and that is how we want to see these guys get better at everything that we do,” he said.
India are currently placed fifth on the World Test Championship standings, but the former India opener was scantly worried about it, with his focus firmly set on winning the second Test against Sri Lanka here.
“We don’t control what’s going to happen. We control what we can control in that one particular match. That’s how we’re going to treat these things. It’s not about where we’re going to be at the end of the World Championship cycle.
“It’s about trying and winning Test matches, and everything else will take care of itself. So, rather than thinking too much ahead, just try and stay in the present, and that’s what we do as players. The more you stay in the present, the more you have the opportunity to get results in the future,” he added.