India coach Gautam Gambhir is unperturbed in his quest for perfection, insisting that his team has not yet played the "perfect game" even as they have a winning run in reaching the Champions Trophy final. Yet, he hopes the immaculate display he has in mind will be achieved during the title match on Sunday.
India booked a place in the final with a four-wicket victory over Australia in the inaugural semifinal on Tuesday, spurred by a masterful 84-run innings by veteran batter Virat Kohli.
In cricket internationally, it is always improvement. You never get to the stage where you can say that you have ticked all the boxes. We still haven't played a perfect game, and I don't think one can be totally content with performances," Gambhir said in the post-match conference.
With the finale scheduled for March 9, Gambhir revealed that he wishes to see India play their best game when the stakes are the highest.
“We have one last match to go, and hopefully, that’s when we’ll produce a perfect performance. Our goal is continuous improvement, to be ruthless on the field yet remain humble off it,” he added.
Tactical Moves for Maximum Impact
India's strategy in this tournament has been characterized by daring moves, including playing four spinners, elevating Axar Patel to No. 5, and changing KL Rahul's batting position to No. 6—all adjustments made to suit the team's strategic requirements. Though these decisions might appear unusual from an external point of view, Gambhir considers them to be important in keeping players out of their comfort zones to extract the best performance.
"Cricket growth is achieved by challenging yourself outside comfort. If you remain in your comfort zone, you don't grow. You've seen the outcome. I know there will be comparisons with the 3-1 series victory in Australia, but the fact is that each member of this team—players and coaches alike—is accepting challenges. Hopefully, we keep doing what's best for Indian cricket," he stressed.
Eyes on the Final Before Future Plans
Though debates over the future of senior players are bound to come up, Gambhir affirms that everything is focused on the final to come.
"I always attempt to dwell in the moment, and at the moment, my focus is simply on the game on March 9. There is naturally a long-term strategy and vision, but those conversations can wait until after the final," he stated.
Clinical Chase Against Australia
Looking back at India's victorious chase of a tough 265-run target from Australia, Gambhir attributed the team's strategy.
"It was a professional pursuit, and that's because we kept wickets in hand, as was the plan. We are aware that pitches here usually slow down in the second half, and we managed the pursuit accordingly. By the 40th over, we had lost just four wickets with two established batters at the crease. With the depth and quality in our batting unit, we were always in control," he explained.
Now that the biggest test lies ahead of them in the final, India will hope to step up to the challenge and give their best-rounded show when it counts the most.
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