New Delhi: The Indian team embarked on a new journey under Gautam Gambhir as the Men in Blue departed for Sri Lankan tour from Mumbai on Monday. India will play three T20Is scheduled from July 27, July 28, and July 30, followed by a three-match ODI series starting on August 1. The Pallekele International Stadium will host the T20I leg of the series, while the R Premadasa Stadium will host the 50-over matches.
In a video posted by ANI, players like Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh and Shubman Gill were seen arriving at the Mumbai Airport. Gambhir, along with newly-appointed assistant coach Abhishek Nayar were also seen at the airport with the Indian team.
#WATCH | Mumbai | Indian Men’s Cricket Team arrives at the Airport, they’ll leave for Sri Lanka, shortly.
Indian Cricket Team will play the ODI and T20I series, 3 matches each, against Sri Lanka, starting on July 27 and ending on August 7. pic.twitter.com/ZmBmBqLasH
— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2024
Ahead of the tour, India’s newly appointed head coach, Gambhir, acknowledged the significant challenge ahead, noting that he has big shoes to fill into a role which was previously held by cricket legends Rahul Dravid and Ravi Shastri.
“The most important thing is that they will always have my back. Aim to make it a happy and secure dressing room. I am taking over a very successful team. Runner-ups in WTC and 50-overs WC. I have big shoes to fill and looking forward to it,” Gambhir said in the press conference.
Besides Nayar, Gambhir will also have the company of Dutch Ryan Ten Doeschate in his coaching staff. ” I have worked closely with Abhishek and Ryan in the last two months at IPL with KKR. Both are absolute professionals and hopefully they will have a successful stint with the Indian team as coaches,” he added.
Nayar represented India in three ODIs and clinched several Ranji titles for Mumbai in his successful first-class career, where he ended up playing more than 100 games. Even during his playing days, Nayar guided Dinesh Karthik to an international comeback. More recently, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy praised Nayar for his crucial role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ first IPL title in ten seasons.
Nayar also brought his expertise to the Caribbean Premier League as the head coach of Trinbago Knight Riders. On the other hand, Ten Doeschate is currently with the Los Angeles Knight Riders in the ongoing Major League Cricket as the assistant coach at the moment. The former Dutch international will join the side in Colombo.
