Watch: Gautam Gambhir and Hardik Pandya’s team bus drama becomes talk of the town, as captain Suryakumar Yadav takes backseat

Newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir officially took charge of the Indian Cricket Team as the players gathered at the Pallekele International Stadium in Pallekele on Tuesday, July 23, for their first training session ahead of the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka.

The Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian cricket team arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday, July 22, for the upcoming three-match T20I series, which will be followed by three ODIs. Ahead of India’s first T20I against Sri Lanka on July 27, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a video of the team’s first practice session on their official X account.

India’s first training session under Gautam Gambhir filled with full drama

Hardik Pandya was the central figure during India’s first training session under Gambhir in Pallekele. Gambhir and Pandya were seen sitting side-by-side in India's team bus after their first practice session in Sri Lanka, which is now the talk of the town.

Well, the Indian cricketers had a nearly three-hour training session, where most of them charged themselves in the nets. India’s first training session under the new head coach was focused on running, catching, and individual interactions ahead of the Sri Lanka series.

India’s new captain, Suryakumar, engaged with the Indian players, while Gambhir was seen offering batting tips to Sanju Samson and talking with all-rounder Shivam Dube. Gambhir also had a lengthy discussion with Pandya on the sidelines of the team’s training session in Pallekele.

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who are expected to open the batting for India as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from the T20I cricket, had an extended hitting session in the nets.

They have faced Pandya at the nets while the star all-rounder practiced match simulations with new assistant coach Abhishek Nayar ahead of the first T20I on July 27 in Pallekele. After India’s first training session in Pallekele, the players one by one boarded the team bus.

Gautam Gambhir and Hardik Pandya share laughs in the front seat, leaving Suryakumar Yadav seated at the back

The YouTube channel Sports Fact Real captured an interesting yet surprising moment with the coach Gambhir taking the front seat with Pandya beside him instead of the skipper Suryakumar. Gambhir sat on the aisle seat on the right side, while Hardik occupied the seat directly across from him on the left side, with Nayar taking a seat just behind the head coach.

They were seen sharing a laugh, reflecting a positive team atmosphere after the recent dramatic changes in the leadership. Actually, Suryakumar was among the Indian team members who boarded the team bus in the last, while Hardik boarded before the skipper, but till then the bus was almost full, and he decided to take the front seat just right with Gambhir.

However, it can be left for the skipper, Surya, instead. Suryakumar’s seat wasn't shown clearly in the video, but it seemed that he was seated in the backend of the bus. He boarded the team bus with the Indian all-rounder Axar Patel after the team’s practice session. The video also shows how the support staff evacuated seats for the players and shifted to another bus, so it must not be like that Hardik had intentionally taken Suryakumar’s seat.

Watch Here: