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India won the series, but lost two back-to-back matches against the New Zealand National Cricket Team. As the India National Cricket Team is arguably the best T20I side in the world, questions were asked of the head coach, Gautam Gambhir.
Gautam Gambhir told the reporters that the boys have done a good job considering the overseas conditions, and he is there with the team to take on different challenges. Gambhir especially praised Shreyas Iyer for his all-over effort.
Gautam Gambhir praises Shreyas Iyer after the India vs New Zealand T20I series.
The head coach has praised the India skipper Shreyas Iyer for his effort throughout the 5-match T20I series. Iyer batted especially well in the fifth match, which was held today at the Seddon Park in Mahilton. After losing two early wickets in the form of the openers, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer scored a half-century and stitched a crucial partnership with Ishan Kishan in the first innings of the match.
"Shreyas Iyer has done a phenomenal job with an inexperienced bowling attack after the World Cup. Against challenging opposition in challenging conditions," Gambhir told the reporters in Hamilton.
Gautam Gambhir on his own workload management
Amid talks around the players' workload management, there has been also pressure on the coach as well, which mostly does not come under the light. Preparing different sets of players for three different formats can be a headache for the head coach. But Gambhir expressed that he is all in to take the workload, but the increasing pressure is getting difficult to ignore as a human being.
"I am ready to take the bullet… it gets tough. I am also human, but I am up for the challenge, and that's my job," he added further.
Gautam Gambhir on the tight fixtures
There is only a one-day gap between the fourth and the fifth match of the series. The players had to travel from Auckland to Hamilton to play the final match. Should there be an extra days for the players to take rest and to take preparations for the following match? Gautam Gambhir was asked about the fixtures of the recently concluded India vs New Zealand 5-match T20I series.
Gambhir told the reporters that the planning is done by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and prioritising is a crucial part of the planning. For a red-ball series, instead of allotting a three-day space, the head coach would like to conduct an eight-to-nine-day camp.
"Planning is done at BCCI level. Prioritising is important. Every match for the country is important. Three-day preparation for red ball is not important. 8-9 days will be good.
Despite having some setbacks and a stiff schedule, Gambhir praised the efforts made by the cricketers as there was only one day to get ready for the last match of the series.
Incredible effort from the boys. Just one day to prepare; most are playing for the first time in New Zealand. Different weather, dimensions, and conditions
