Ahmedabad, Mar 9: India head coach Gautam Gambhir reiterated his long standing belief that individual milestones should not overshadow team achievements, stressing that winning trophies must remain the primary goal of Indian cricket.
Speaking after India national cricket team secured its third ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title with a commanding 96-run victory over New Zealand national cricket team in Ahmedabad, Gambhir emphasised that collective success matters more than personal statistics.
The former opener said he and T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav share the same philosophy about prioritising championships over individual achievements.
“For too long we have spoken about milestones in Indian cricket. I hope that as long as I am here, we focus on winning trophies rather than celebrating personal records,” Gambhir said, urging the cricket fraternity to highlight team triumphs instead of individual numbers.
Although he did not name anyone specifically, Gambhir’s remarks appeared to reference the long-standing emphasis on individual records in the sport. He pointed out that even his own match defining performances in major finals were often overshadowed by other memorable moments, including MS Dhoni’s famous six that sealed the 2011 Cricket World Cup Final and Dhoni’s decision to hand the final over to Joginder Sharma in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 Final.
Gambhir highlighted recent performances by Sanju Samson as examples of players focusing on team success. According to him, Samson’s crucial knocks in the knockout stages reflected a selfless approach rather than a pursuit of personal milestones.
The coach also dismissed criticism on social media, stating that his primary accountability lies with the players in the dressing room rather than external commentary.
“My responsibility is towards the people inside the dressing room. Their trust matters the most during my coaching tenure,” he said.
Gambhir added that the team environment under his leadership is built on trust and faith rather than short-term expectations. He noted that players are backed even during difficult phases, pointing to continued support for youngsters such as Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, who eventually delivered important performances.
According to him, a stable environment where players feel trusted is key to building a successful side and sustaining India’s achievements in international cricket.