(Source X)
Newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir officially assumed leadership of the Indian Cricket Team as the squad convened at Pallekele International Stadium in Pallekele on Tuesday, July 23. They gathered for their initial training session in preparation for the forthcoming limited-overs series against Sri Lanka.
Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian cricket contingent arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday, July 22, ahead of the upcoming three-match T20I series, which will be followed by three ODIs. Prior to India’s first T20I encounter against Sri Lanka scheduled for July 27, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a video capturing the team’s inaugural practice session on their official X account.
India’s first training session under Gautam Gambhir was filled with drama.
Hardik Pandya played a pivotal role during India’s initial training session under Gambhir in Pallekele. Following their practice in Sri Lanka, Gambhir and Pandya were spotted seated side by side on India’s team bus, sparking widespread discussion.
The Indian cricketers engaged in a comprehensive training session lasting nearly three hours, focusing primarily on batting, fielding drills, and individual interactions in preparation for the upcoming Sri Lanka series.
Suryakumar, the new captain, actively interacted with the Indian players, while Gambhir provided batting insights to Sanju Samson and engaged in discussions with all-rounder Shivam Dube. Notably, Gambhir had an extensive conversation with Pandya on the sidelines of the training session in Pallekele.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, slated to open the batting following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20I cricket, underwent an intensive batting session in the nets. They faced challenges from Pandya during practice while the dynamic all-rounder honed his skills in match simulations with new assistant coach Abhishek Nayar ahead of the first T20I on July 27 in Pallekele.
After concluding their training session in Pallekele, the Indian players boarded the team bus one by one, wrapping up a productive day of preparations.
Gautam Gambhir and Hardik Pandya share laughs in the front seat, with Suryakumar Yadav seated at the back.
The YouTube channel Sports Fact Real captured a notable moment featuring coach Gambhir in the front seat alongside Pandya, rather than skipper Suryakumar, marking a departure from usual seating arrangements. Gambhir occupied the aisle seat on the right side, while Pandya sat directly across from him on the left, with Nayar positioned just behind the head coach.
During their ride, they shared a moment of laughter, underscoring a positive team dynamic amid recent leadership changes. Interestingly, Suryakumar boarded the team bus later than most, finding limited seating options by then. When Pandya boarded before him, the bus was nearly full, prompting him to take the seat next to Gambhir in the front.
Notably, Suryakumar’s seating wasn’t prominently shown in the video, but it appeared he settled towards the rear of the bus upon boarding with Indian all-rounder Axar Patel after the team’s practice session. Additionally, the video illustrated how the support staff reorganized seating to accommodate players, indicating that Pandya’s seat choice was likely logistical rather than intentional.
Ultimately, while Pandya’s seating choice was in the front alongside Gambhir, it was a consequence of timing and available space, rather than a deliberate decision to displace Suryakumar from his usual spot.
