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Team India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has downplayed ongoing speculation regarding dressing room tension, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the team's morale leading into their T20 World Cup clash against Namibia. While social media rumours have suggested a decline in team spirit since he took the helm, Gambhir clarified that the staff has made a conscious effort to maintain a lighthearted and supportive environment during training sessions.
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The head coach noted that while the intensity naturally spikes once a match begins, the period leading up to the game is defined by a relaxed atmosphere. By encouraging players to joke around and stay at ease during practice, the coaching staff believes they are creating the ideal conditions for the squad to perform at their peak.
Gambhir reveals India's dressing room atmosphere amidst T20 World Cup
This proactive approach seems aimed at silencing critics who claimed Gambhir’s arrival had soured the team's inner culture. By prioritizing a "relaxed as possible" vibe before the first ball is bowled, the leadership team is focusing on mental clarity to ensure the players remain unfazed by outside noise.
"Once the game gets started, it's always tense. It's always for pressure. We want to train as hard as you can. But in the dressing room and during the practice session, whenever we get an opportunity, you try and be as relaxed as you can. You can joke around," Gautam Gambhir said in a video shared by the BCCI.
Gambhir also took a moment to credit his support staff, describing them as being as close to him as his own family. He highlighted the unique emotional bond they share, noting that the high-pressure nature of professional cricket often leads to a deeper exchange of feelings within the coaching unit than one might even experience at home.
The head coach further emphasized the weight of their roles by revealing that moments of genuine joy are rare in their profession. According to Gambhir, the only time a cricketer or a member of the support staff can truly afford to smile is when they finally step into a winning dressing room, underscoring the intense focus required to succeed at the highest level.
"The only time players or support staff can smile is when you go into a winning dressing room. As simple as it can get... A winning dressing room is a smiling dressing room," the former India captain added.
Watch the video here:
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