India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav lauded head coach Gautam Gambhir for creating an environment in the team which has led to selfless cricket. Suryakumar recalled that Gambhir said that ‘no one is bigger than the team’. The approach they follow is that it does not matter if a batter is nearing a milestone, if the need is to go for a big shot, they should.
“We've achieved a lot as a team. I want to have selfless cricketers in my team. We want to be a selfless team. As Hardik said, we want to enjoy each others' performance on the field, off the field, spend as much time as possible and that camaraderie is carrying on the field and we are having some fun,” Suryakumar said in the post-match presentation after India’s 133-run win in the third T20I to complete cleansweep against Bangladesh.
“The chat around the team has been like that, Gauti bhai said the same at the start of the series and when we went to Sri Lanka as well, no one is bigger than the team. If you are on 99 or 49 or anything, if you feel you have to hit a ball out of the park for the team, you have to hit it and the same thing Sanju did and I am really happy for him. We have to be very flexible. Everyone has to chip in. The way they showed it in this series, it was commendable,” Suryakumar added.
Samson credits Surya, Gambhir for his turnaround
Indian opener Sanju Samson reached his century from just 40 balls, the second-fastest by an Indian. He hit a boundary to reach his maiden T20I ton as well. Samson thanked Suryakumar and Gambhir for backing him despite a lacklustre display in the previous T20I series.
“The dressing room and the leadership group which we have, they keep telling me, "I know what type of talent you have and we back you no matter what," Not in words, in actions also they've shown me. In the last series I got two ducks and went back to Kerala thinking, "kya hoga bhai," but they backed me in this series and I am very happy that I gave something to smile for my captain and coach,” the ‘Player of the match’ Samson said.
Pandya happy with dressing room enjoying his success
All-rounder Hardik Pandya heaped praise on Suryakumar and Gambhir as well for creating a positive environment in the dressing room.
“The kind of freedom the skipper and the coach has given, that has been fantastic to the whole group. That is coming to all the players who are playing. At the end of the day, this sport, if you can enjoy, that's the best way you can get maximum out of yourself. When the dressing room is enjoying, when everyone's enjoying everyone's success, you feel like doing more,” Pandya said.
