India’s allrounder Axar Patel has stated that the newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir has made it clear that there will be no alterations to the team’s playing style, and they will continue with their current approach.
Following Rahul Dravid’s decision not to continue as head coach after his term ended, India has seen a significant overhaul in their coaching team. Gambhir, who has been brought in with the goal of securing several ICC tournaments in the coming years, has introduced Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches for the Sri Lanka tour. Additionally, Morne Morkel is being considered for the role of bowling coach.
T Dilip, the fielding coach, is the only member from the previous coaching staff who has been retained. The finalization of the complete coaching staff is expected to occur after the Sri Lanka tour.
Axar Patel reveals India’s game plan under Gautam Gambhir
Axar Patel has been an important part of India’s team in the past 10 years. He came in as the understudy of another fellow allrounder from his state Ravindra Jadeja. After struggling to find a place in India’s first-choice playing XI for a long time, Axar has now established himself as a key member of this team, especially in T20Is.
After the first T20I against Sri Lanka, Axar revealed India’s game plan under Gautam Gambhir. The left-arm spinner reckoned that there won’t be any wholesale changes and added that the team management also thinks the same.
“I have been playing for 10 years. I have played with different coaches and captains. I don’t think a lot will change in the team. When we were talking in the team meeting, they also said the same thing that the coach and captain keep changing but the team remains the same and the 11 or 15 players who stay, they have to do it,” Axar said after India’s win on Saturday (July 27).
The team atmosphere does not change despite the change in coach – Axar Patel
The 30-year-old also mentioned the team management’s message to the players. He reckoned that their thinking might be different but it won’t change the team’s atmosphere.
“They have told us that we will play the way we have been playing. Obviously, the coach and his input can be different. The thinking can be different, they keep telling you here and there. But there is not much change in the team’s atmosphere,” Axar added.
India have been preferring to play an aggressive brand of cricket in the white-ball formats. Even Rohit Sharma spoke about playing with intent during his tenure as India’s T20I captain. In the ODIs too, the Men in Blue have been looking to score runs despite losing wickets.
This aggression was visible during the first T20I against Sri Lanka as well, where India racked up 213-7 in 20 overs. Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal put in 74 runs in the powerplay for the first wicket, which was followed by a whirlwind batting display from skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
