3 min learnMar 9, 2026 01:07 PM IST
India outclassed New Zealand by an unlimited 96 runs victory on Sunday within the ultimate of the T20 World Cup to bag the title for the second consecutive version and third time general. The achievement held nice private which means for the pinnacle coach, Gautam Gambhir, who grew to become the primary particular person to have each performed and coached a T20 World Cup-winning facet, having helped India to carry the inaugural ICC Males’s T20 World Cup trophy in 2007.
Reflecting on the mantra of his T20I facet after the ultimate, Gambhir mentioned: “The plan was quite simple. I all the time imagine that prime threat, excessive reward is the one option to play a T20 format, and also you don’t worry dropping a recreation of cricket to win one.”
“For those who begin fearing defeat, you’ll by no means win. I informed the captain that we are going to not play a match of 160-170. I might relatively settle for getting all out for 100 as a result of scores of 150-160 take you nowhere,” he added.
Regardless of dropping closely to South Africa in an earlier match, India maintained their aggressive technique as they entered right into a must-win scenario with successive matches with stronger groups. “So if you happen to play excessive threat, that’s once you make 250 or 260 runs…….We misplaced a match in opposition to South Africa by 100 runs – however that ideology by no means modified. I by no means thought, that now let’s play a bit subdued. As a result of after South Africa, all our matches have been must-win matches. All have been knockout matches. However regardless of that, if you happen to play that form of cricket, that’s once you give your self the very best likelihood to win large tournaments,” he mentioned.
Gambhir additionally paid quite a lot of credit score to many people who performed a key position within the success of Indian Cricket, dedicating the victory to former head coach Rahul Dravid and praising the position of VVS Laxman, who heads the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.
Gambhir additionally reserved particular reward for choice committee chairman Ajit Agarkar, crediting him for constantly backing the crew and administration by way of difficult moments within the match.
“And final however not the least, I’ve to thank Jay Shah. After I went by way of the bottom moments in my tenure, he was the one who referred to as me and trusted me with this job,” Gambhir mentioned.

