- 7 months ago
T20 World Cup: Sunil Gavaskar compared Suryakumar Yadav’s calm and composed leadership to Rohit Sharma after India’s T20 World Cup triumph. With the win, Suryakumar joined Dhoni, Rohit and Kapil Dev as World Cup-winning Indian captains.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Joining us now, as I promised, Maninder Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Sunny Gavaskar on our broadcast.
00:06Harbhajan, let me start with you on this one.
00:08Firstly, many congratulations. We are all world champions at the moment.
00:11But let's look at this final.
00:13You know, on final day, big day, India don't just win.
00:18It's a massive margin of 96 runs.
00:22Is it also a sign or a hallmark of a good team that come the big occasion,
00:27they come up with their best cricket?
00:31Obviously, it's a big, big moment for Team India and for all of us.
00:37You know, since we are all cricket fans and I've been a former cricketer,
00:44you know, nothing can give me more happiness than seeing Team India winning the way they have won this tournament.
00:50It's outstanding.
00:52And this is going to go a long, long way, the kind of cricket Team India have played.
00:59Brilliant.
01:00Outstanding.
01:00I don't really have words, but I can only say, you know, this is something really special they have achieved.
01:06And, you know, the way they have played, this message will go for a long, long way forward.
01:15That this is the new way Team India will play. Bold and look to dominate whenever they walk onto the
01:24field.
01:24I think, Harbhajan, you are speaking for all of us when you say that you are short on words because
01:29how do you really put into words what we have just witnessed?
01:33I invite you to you, a similar question, what I asked Harbhajan. You know, it's the big final. Big final
01:38and two good teams have reached there. You expect a close contest.
01:42How do I describe this? How do I describe this? Is this a win or is it a hammering?
01:50Oh, hammering. Hammering. Because, you know, in T20 cricket, if you win by, say, 25-30 runs, you say it's
01:56a big win. Or you win by, you know, by, say, four wickets in hand or whatever. You still put
02:04it a big win.
02:05So, clearly, I think this hammering, where you won by so many runs, you know, such that it's a massive,
02:12massive hammering that India gave me zero.
02:16Mahindra, what do you reckon? You know, as I said, big finals and before the finals started, we were all
02:22discussing pressure, 130,000 people in the stadium.
02:27There will be pressure of not just being the favourites, the pressure of performing in front of a packed house.
02:32And the way this Indian team has performed, it kind of tells you that they have nerves of steel, I
02:37guess.
02:38That's exactly what we spoke about, that these boys know how to handle the pressure, which is very important because,
02:43you know, there are so many Indians, millions of them, expecting these boys to win trophies all the time.
02:49But the best part about this team is, you know, we've been talking about that, you know, they look like
02:53a unit on the field, but they're fearless cricketers as well.
02:56And a lot of credit goes to the coaches we've had in the past and now, Gautam Gabbir.
03:02I think it's very important that the coaches, the coaching staff, they make these boys realise that they can play
03:11the kind of cricket that they've played.
03:12If they play fearlessly, that is what is required in T20 cricket and that's exactly what they've done.
03:18I mean, they did get a wake-up call when they lost to South Africa with a big margin, but
03:23they got it at the right time.
03:24And look at what happened after that.
03:26I mean, they just kept dominating.
03:28That is what they were doing before the South Africa loss.
03:32And that is what they did after they lost to the South African team.
03:36So I think sometimes a wake-up call is also very important because you could become complacent.
03:41But this team never became complacent after that loss against South Africa.
03:46The one word that is being used by most of our experts in this broadcast is dominant.
03:51Harbhajan said it, Maninder is saying that too.
03:53And that takes me to the next question and I'll put this to Harbhajan.
03:57You know, India are already the defending champions, so they're world champions in that sense.
04:02So they go into this tournament also as the favourites.
04:06Yet, the way this team has been playing under Sura Kumar Yadav, I'm not just talking about this tournament,
04:11not just about this particular final, but in the last year, year and a half,
04:15is it fair to say that this is probably the best T20 team ever assembled?
04:23See, let's not compare eras.
04:25You know, every era have different players, different, you know, vibe all together.
04:31This team, obviously, what they have achieved is phenomenal.
04:34You know, they have set new limits to how they can play this format and how it should be played.
04:40You know, when we started in 2007, we had no clue about this format.
04:45And to be honest, those days, 140, 150, 160 was a winning total.
04:50You know, if you score those many runs, you know that you can defend.
04:53And now, you know, if you score 180, 200, those are still checkable scores.
04:58So this team have taken the game to a different level altogether, scoring back-to-back 250-odd runs.
05:07You know, in the semis and the finals, it goes on to show that they mean business.
05:12They understand this format better than the others and they are far ahead than the others.
05:17And, you know, let's not compare them with Dhoni's team or Rohit's team or anybody's team.
05:22But it is all our teams and we are glad that the journey where we started from
05:28and it is that legacy is going forward and going great.
05:33You know, the boys have taken the role and they have taken Indian cricket on a serious, serious height.
05:40No, no, I completely agree with what you say, Harbhajan.
05:42It is not Dhoni's team or Rohit's team or Surakumar Yadav's team.
05:46I think it's all our team, right?
05:48It's the Indian team and we are all very proud of this particular Indian team.
05:52But Maninda, you know what my point was and what I'm trying to get at is,
05:55it's not about how does it compare to an MS Dhoni's team.
05:58I think MS Dhoni's team played the T20 cricket that the times at that time dictated.
06:03And then, of course, Rohit Sharma's team played the kind of T20 cricket the times at that time wanted.
06:07My point is that, you know, just like in, let's say, 100 metres,
06:10you had a Jesse Owens, then Carl Lewis, then Usain Bolt.
06:14Every one of those world champions kept going faster and faster.
06:18In that sense, is this Indian team playing at a level
06:22which is a level or two above what we had seen in T20 cricket prior to this?
06:27Yes, I believe so.
06:28I believe so.
06:29And that is why I keep giving a lot of credit to the coaches,
06:34the coaching staff, to Surya Kumar Yadav,
06:36because it's the captains who make a very important,
06:40who play a very important role in guiding the boys.
06:44Because Surya Kumar Yadav has got a lot of experience behind him.
06:46Gautam Gambi, you know, I know him from under 16 days when I used to umpire.
06:50And, you know, at that time also, he would play every game, a local game, to win.
06:56So I think he's got that habit and he's, you know, making these boys realise
07:03that this is the best habit to have, to win and win with authority.
07:07And that is exactly what this team is doing.
07:09So I think, yes, this is the best unit of T20 cricket in world cricket.
07:16And I think the best T20 team India has had.
07:20I mean, we've, you know, had leaders before who have shown us the way.
07:24But Surya Kumar Yadav has really taken it way ahead.
07:27Yeah, I think the biggest testament to the level at which this Indian team is operating
07:32is the fact that, remember, in a semi-final, all-important semi-final,
07:35they get a record total of 253.
07:38All-important final, they get a record total of 255.
07:41I know a lot of people are talking about the flat nature of pitches,
07:44but the flat nature of those pitches were available to all teams.
07:48You know, New Zealand also were batting.
07:49In fact, many said batting will get better in the second innings.
07:52But it is your bowling that ensured and then your batting
07:56by getting, you know, 20, 30, 40, dare I say, even 50 runs more than the bat total.
08:01That is what has ensured that you won by 96 runs.
08:04And by that is what I mean.
08:05The Indian team is really pushing that bar.
08:08Saiwai, to you, you know, two back-to-back World Cup wins.
08:13That's a fact that's not escaping us.
08:14The first-ever team to defend their T20 World Cup crown.
08:18What does that tell you about the health of Indian T20 cricket?
08:24It tells you that, you know, Indian cricket is in very good hands.
08:27When you look at the performance through the IPL,
08:31I think the IPL has been instrumental in giving in just so many players,
08:36not just in the T20 format, but in all the formats.
08:39And you can see the results of that.
08:42There are so many players who could have made it into the 11,
08:47but who are unable to.
08:48But if they were available, if you had a situation
08:51where other countries would say,
08:53OK, you're not picking these guys, you know,
08:55can we borrow them?
08:57Can we borrow them to play for us?
08:59There will be so many who other countries
09:01would have taken in their playing 11.
09:05So, this is the strength of the Indian cricket.
09:09You know, India could well have ended with two or three teams in this tournament.
09:15OK, Harbhajan, you know, there were many good performers for this Indian team.
09:19And because we are talking about them being one of the best teams ever assembled,
09:23it can only happen if you've got multiple match winners.
09:26And I think this tournament is the best example of that.
09:29We had multiple match winners win you games on different occasions.
09:33But, if you were to pick the player of the tournament,
09:37it's a tough one.
09:38I know there are two, three good contenders there.
09:40If you had to pick the player of the tournament,
09:42who would you pick?
09:45Well, I think I would give it to Sanju Samson,
09:48especially for his last three innings.
09:50You know, last three games, knockout games,
09:53against West Indies,
09:55and then semi-final against England,
09:58and now against New Zealand.
10:00You know, it goes on to show that those three important matches,
10:06and he stood up for Team India and scored heavily,
10:10you know, for Team India.
10:11I think his best inning was still,
10:14I would say, on that sluggish pitch in Kolkata,
10:18where he went on to score 97,
10:20and he was making a comeback,
10:22scored, you know, brilliantly for Team India.
10:26I think that was a pinch where,
10:29you know, for a new batter,
10:31it would have been difficult to chase,
10:33but he made it possible.
10:35He batted till the end,
10:37and made sure that chase was not a difficult task for Team India.
10:41So, I would give it to Sanju Samson.
10:42Okay, Harbhajan is gone with Sanju.
10:45Sanju once again gets 89,
10:47but just the update that I'm getting right now,
10:50the man of the match for this game,
10:53no surprises there.
10:54Again, there was a contest between Jaspreet Bumrah,
10:57Sanju Samson,
10:58because Sanju got the most,
10:5989 runs,
11:00but the man of the match is Jaspreet Bumrah.
11:02He gave away only 15 runs,
11:05picking up four wickets in this encounter.
11:07This time, it's gone to Jaspreet Bumrah.
11:09But, Manandar, same question to you.
11:11I'm not asking about the player of the match.
11:13I think that also is a 50-50 call,
11:17but player of the tournament,
11:19there's Jaspreet Bumrah,
11:20there is Sanju Samson,
11:22I guess there is a Hardik Pandya somewhere lurking behind.
11:26There is Aksar Patel too.
11:28It's not an easy choice.
11:30Well, I think Sanju Samson would be my choice.
11:33I would vote for him,
11:34because, you know, the kind of, like Harbhajan said,
11:36the innings that he played, 97 in Kolkata,
11:38then 89-89,
11:40I mean, and important matches.
11:42So, it was very important to get those starts
11:44in these important matches,
11:46and Sanju Samson,
11:47he showed the maturity.
11:49And the best part is,
11:50he wasn't scoring runs just for himself.
11:53He was making those partnerships,
11:55which are very important.
11:56Like he had today,
11:57he had those two partnerships
11:58with Abhishek Sharma
12:00and Ishaan Kishin.
12:02That is also very important.
12:03It really matters how you handle that pressure,
12:07how you take the game forward.
12:08And Sanju Samson,
12:10I think he is way ahead
12:13of all the players,
12:14I think, in this tournament.
12:15So, for my player of the tournament,
12:17it's him.
12:19Sanju Samson
12:20plays Maninder Singh as well.
12:24Saniv, I want to ask you about,
12:26you know, the pitches as well.
12:27But before that,
12:28I'll also ask you the same question
12:30that we are discussing,
12:31the player of the tournament.
12:33If you had to pick one,
12:34who are you going with?
12:40I think it's going to be
12:41a close call
12:41between Sanju Samson
12:42and Yeshri Bumar.
12:43Very close call.
12:44And with Akshar Patel,
12:45not too far behind.
12:46I know Akshar didn't get
12:47too many opportunities
12:48with the bat,
12:49but whenever he bowled,
12:50he bowled well
12:51at the fielding
12:52in this semi-final
12:54against England.
12:56It was absolutely tough class.
12:58We're talking about
12:59the player of the tournament.
13:00One player who will not
13:01be in contention of that
13:02is going to be
13:03captain Suru Kumar Yadha,
13:04but I guess what,
13:06at the moment,
13:07if you ask Kai
13:07that you're not in contention
13:09on one of the highest
13:10run-getters
13:11or any of that sort,
13:12but you are getting
13:13to hold a World Cup trophy,
13:15I think he'll take that.
13:15He'll say,
13:16give me the World Cup trophy.
13:17I really don't care
13:18about player of the tournament
13:19or the highest run-getter
13:20or not.
13:21And that's my next question.
13:22Harbhajan,
13:22I'll throw this one to you.
13:24For Suru Kumar Yadha as well,
13:26you know,
13:27there were big shoes
13:28that he had to fill.
13:29That of Rohit Sharma
13:31who had won the title.
13:32When you come in
13:33after a title,
13:34winning campaign,
13:35everyone expects the title
13:36from you as well.
13:37What's the kind of legacy
13:39that Sky leaves behind
13:40as captain now?
13:43Well, obviously,
13:44it's a proud moment
13:45for Suria Kumar Yadha
13:46and I'm really happy
13:47for him
13:48and also for each
13:49and every member
13:50of the team.
13:50You know,
13:51no captain is bigger
13:52than the team.
13:53As I always mention,
13:54you know,
13:55you're as good
13:56as your team is.
13:57So,
13:59he's fortunate
14:00to have such good players
14:02in his team
14:02likes of Sanju,
14:04Abhishek,
14:05Ishaan Kishan
14:06in the form
14:06and Hardik Pandya
14:09and Dubey,
14:10Akshar,
14:11Jaspreet Bumra.
14:12He's got all the
14:13match winners
14:14in his team
14:15and he himself
14:16is a big,
14:17big match winner.
14:18So,
14:19you know,
14:19obviously,
14:21being a leader,
14:22being a captain,
14:23he's done a great job
14:25to put this team
14:26together for one
14:27and a half year.
14:28You know,
14:28this is how they
14:29wanted to play cricket
14:30and dominate
14:32the opposition
14:32and they have
14:33clearly showed,
14:34you know,
14:35whatever they
14:35tried in one
14:37and a half
14:38or two years back,
14:39you know,
14:40when this campaign
14:40started under
14:42Surya Kumar Yadav.
14:43You know,
14:43they have definitely
14:44worked hard
14:45to get to this level
14:46and today is a
14:47celebration day
14:47for him
14:48and for all
14:50his close one
14:51who made this team
14:52and of course,
14:53this legacy
14:55will be carried
14:56forward by
14:57someone who will
14:58be taking over
14:59him,
14:59maybe whenever
15:00time comes
15:01but he's done
15:02a great job
15:03for Team India
15:04as a captain.
15:04Who will be
15:05the next captain?
15:06I think we have
15:06enough time to
15:07discuss that
15:07at a later date.
15:09Sunny Gavaskar,
15:10Harbhajan Singh
15:11and Maninder Singh
15:12all with us.
15:13We were talking
15:14about Surya Kumar
15:14Yadav,
15:15the captain.
15:16Sunnybhai,
15:16to you on this one,
15:18I could see
15:18right after the victory,
15:20Surya Kumar Yadav
15:21feeling very relieved
15:22then, you know,
15:23picking up that soil
15:24from the pitch,
15:25putting it on his
15:26forehead as a mark
15:27of respect.
15:28You know,
15:28this is also
15:29a culmination
15:30of something
15:31that he had started
15:31a year and a half
15:32back,
15:33eventually getting
15:34his hands on
15:35the cup that
15:35he so desired.
15:39Well,
15:39he's such a calm,
15:40cold,
15:41collected captain,
15:42isn't he?
15:42Pretty much in the,
15:43in the,
15:44in the,
15:45in the vogue of
15:46for Rohit Sharma.
15:49You know,
15:49always smiling,
15:50always positive
15:52in his attitude,
15:53in his approach
15:54and,
15:56you know,
15:57the way he's,
15:57he's handled
15:58the situation
15:59despite the fact
16:00that he didn't have,
16:01that's what the
16:02outstanding,
16:02that many hoped
16:04he would have.
16:04He,
16:05he was,
16:05he started off
16:06by saving India
16:07from an awful situation
16:08against USA,
16:10scoring 84,
16:11not out in India
16:12for 77,
16:13now four,
16:14I think six,
16:15and then about.
16:15And then after that,
16:16he quite gets the run
16:17for his leadership
16:19overall,
16:20beyond response,
16:21beyond question.
16:21He was clearly
16:22the leader
16:23and that you could see
16:24that everybody
16:25in the team
16:25looked up to him
16:26for a very
16:27very fond of him
16:28and wanted to do
16:29that little bit extra
16:30for him.
16:32That's a very interesting
16:33point that Mr. Gavaskar
16:34makes.
16:35Maninder,
16:35you know,
16:36he says leader
16:37and I've heard
16:38Surya Kumar Yadav
16:39say this
16:39previously as well.
16:41We,
16:41we refer to
16:43the captain
16:44as sometimes skipper
16:45or the captain
16:46as I just mentioned
16:47but Surya Kumar Yadav
16:48quite often
16:49used to come into
16:49press conference
16:50I've attended
16:50and he said,
16:51listen,
16:51I want to be a leader.
16:53what is the difference
16:54between a skipper
16:55and a leader
16:56and if he was
16:58indeed the leader
16:58did he do his job
17:00in that sense
17:01of inspiring his team
17:02to that title?
17:03He did a job
17:04brilliantly,
17:05you know,
17:05because he wasn't
17:06scoring runs himself.
17:08He wasn't scoring
17:08runs consistently
17:09and,
17:10you know,
17:10sometimes
17:10you go into
17:12that zone
17:13where you start
17:13thinking that
17:14how do I start
17:15getting runs?
17:15I'm being criticized
17:17for not scoring runs,
17:19still being the
17:19captain of the
17:20Indian team
17:20and then to
17:21handle these boys
17:22it's not very easy
17:23and I think
17:24he's done that brilliantly
17:25and the best thing
17:25about him is
17:26that smile on his face.
17:28That's very important
17:29for a leader.
17:30You know,
17:30he's very calm
17:31on the field
17:32if his bowlers
17:32are going for runs
17:33he'll go and talk to them
17:34but you never see him
17:35shouting at his boys
17:37which Mahinda Singh
17:38Dhani also used to do.
17:39Very rarely
17:39did we see
17:40Mahinda Singh Dhani
17:41shouting at his bowlers
17:43or telling them
17:43that they're bowling
17:44the wrong line
17:45but Surya Kumar Yadav
17:47he's a different
17:49fish in the pond
17:50anyway.
17:51You know,
17:52he keeps smiling
17:52all the time
17:53this is how I've seen him
17:54since 2011-12
17:55and this is how
17:56he's remained
17:57and that is
17:59very important
18:00to calm the boys down
18:01whatever situation
18:02you are in
18:03because after that
18:04South Africa loss
18:05you know,
18:07this team could have
18:08gone anywhere
18:09but it is that
18:10leader
18:11Surya Kumar Yadav
18:12who kept them together
18:13who kept the atmosphere good
18:15I mean,
18:16let's give credit
18:16to Gautam Kambir
18:17and his team as well
18:18you know,
18:19the coaching staff
18:19they must have done
18:20a wonderful job as well
18:21to keep these boys
18:22on their toes
18:24and make them realize
18:25what they're made of
18:26but Surya Kumar Yadav
18:27hats off to him
18:28because he wasn't
18:29performing consistently
18:31still got the team
18:33to win
18:34still got the team
18:35to perform consistently.
18:37Very interesting.
18:39Interesting comparison
18:40that you make
18:41about Surya Kumar Yadav
18:42and MS Dhoni
18:43calm collective
18:44I think
18:45in that sense
18:46he's a bit of a
18:47Rohit Sharma
18:48and a bit of a
18:49MS Dhoni
18:50calm as MS Dhoni
18:51but has that
18:52nonchalant
18:54you know,
18:54sense of humour
18:55that comes along
18:57with a Rohit Sharma
18:58so a good mix
18:58of an MS Dhoni
19:00and Rohit Sharma
19:00in terms of personality
19:01of course
19:02they're all very
19:02different captains
19:03tactically
19:04but in terms of personality
19:05I think he's a
19:06very good mix
19:07of the two previous captains
19:09that have gone on
19:10to win the T20 World Cup
19:11so there is another
19:12common thread
19:13that runs
19:14across these three captains
19:15that have lifted
19:16the T20 World Cup
19:17trophy for India
19:18Harbhajan
19:19Sunil Gavaskar
19:20Maninder Singh
19:21all still with us
19:22Harbhajan
19:24one common factor
19:25that everyone
19:26was discussing
19:27ahead of this game
19:28was the match
19:30at the Mutera Stadium
19:31in Ahmedabad
19:31everyone was nervous
19:33nervous for good reason
19:34because we went
19:36into that 2023 final
19:38with so much hope
19:39as the favourites
19:40just like today
19:40and then you faltered
19:42and then in this tournament
19:43you played only one game
19:44there
19:45and then you lost
19:46so I can't really
19:47blame the fans
19:48for being a bit
19:50nervous
19:51a bit reluctant
19:52about India's performance
19:53at the end of the day
19:54fair to say that
19:55those bad memories
19:57have been wiped off now
20:02yeah see
20:04a lot of people
20:05talk about Eden
20:05as well
20:06you know
20:06Eden didn't have
20:07the best of the record
20:08but somewhere down the line
20:10it got to change
20:11and luckily
20:12you know
20:13in our era
20:13we could manage
20:15to do that
20:15you know
20:16we started winning
20:17at the Eden
20:18and we
20:18kind of
20:20changed that concept
20:21what people were thinking
20:22you know
20:23playing in Eden
20:24is always
20:24you know
20:26difficult one
20:27and India
20:28always lose
20:28the match there
20:29so a lot of people
20:30talk about
20:31this stadium
20:31as well
20:32in Ahmedabad
20:33if the game
20:34is happening there
20:35India might lose
20:36but it has got
20:37nothing to do
20:38with the cricketers
20:39or with the result
20:40of the game
20:41it is the mindset
20:42of those people
20:43they have never
20:44played cricket
20:45and they feel that way
20:46I think
20:47when two
20:48good teams
20:49play against each other
20:50one has to
20:51win
20:52and one
20:52will obviously
20:53lose
20:54you know
20:55other day
20:56India played
20:58against Australia
21:00Australia
21:01was a better team
21:02on that particular day
21:04throughout the tournament
21:06India was
21:06unbeatable team
21:08and
21:08and suddenly
21:10comes a
21:11final
21:11and
21:11Australia
21:12you know
21:13they have better
21:14hand
21:14so I think
21:16in this game
21:17it goes on to show
21:18if you put your
21:19right foot forward
21:20I mean
21:21to do everything
21:22right from ball one
21:24you know
21:25you will get
21:26what result
21:27you want
21:27so I think
21:29that is also
21:30done and dusted
21:30now
21:31whatever people
21:31used to think
21:33that this
21:33ground the panoti
21:35or whatsoever
21:36what I have heard
21:36on social media
21:37this is only for those
21:39people who never
21:40played the game
21:40you know
21:41who spread such
21:42kind of negativity
21:43ground have
21:44nothing to do
21:45with the result
21:45it is the players
21:46how well they play
21:47on that particular day
21:48so I am so glad
21:49our team
21:50could manage to do that
21:51now
21:51at least people
21:53will start saying
21:54Ahmedabad is also
21:55a winning ground
21:56for us
21:57absolutely
21:58and one reason
21:59why you have such
22:00big games
22:00there is the fact
22:01that it's got
22:02a massive
22:03capacity there
22:04and for big games
22:05everyone wants
22:06a ticket
22:06in fact
22:07even with
22:081,30,000 people
22:09being accommodated
22:10in Ahmedabad
22:11still you are
22:11short on tickets
22:12that's much
22:12how much
22:13you know
22:13there is love
22:14for cricket
22:15amongst Indian fans
22:16so that's one
22:16of the reasons
22:17why the games
22:17happen there
22:18and as you said
22:19correctly
22:19this is a day
22:21everyone will forget
22:2219th November
22:238th March
22:24is the new day
22:25everyone will remember
22:27because that's the day
22:28India has lifted
22:28that T20 World Cup trophy
22:30the other
22:31talking points
22:32to you on this one
22:34Gautam Gambhir
22:35see he's
22:35he's had a mixed bag
22:37of a time as coach
22:38with the Indian team
22:39he's coming for
22:40criticism as well
22:40when India have faltered
22:42in test matches
22:43and on occasions
22:44in ODI cricket too
22:45but look at
22:46look at
22:46the tournaments
22:47that he's won
22:48won the Asia Cup
22:49as coach
22:50now the T20 World Cup
22:52winning coach
22:52so when you
22:53criticise him
22:54for some time
22:55tactical errors
22:56or teams
22:57poor performance
22:58then I think
22:58he deserves
22:59all the credit
23:00today
23:00after India
23:01has lifted the cup
23:04oh definitely
23:05yes
23:06because
23:06I mean
23:07if you
23:08if you're
23:09pointing a finger
23:10at him
23:10and the team
23:11doesn't do well
23:12when the team
23:12does well
23:13you've got to
23:13give him credit
23:14it can't be
23:15just one way
23:16that only when
23:16the team
23:16trails
23:17that you look
23:17at the points
23:18but when the team
23:19does well
23:19look at the captain
23:21and the players
23:22that is not the way
23:23to go about it
23:23so clearly
23:24yes
23:25I think Gambhir
23:25deserves credit
23:27for what he's achieved
23:29with this team
23:30in wide ball
23:31we can look
23:31three back to back
23:32titles he's won
23:33the Champions
23:33trophy
23:33the Asia Cup
23:34and now this one
23:36you alluded to
23:37Gautam Gambhir
23:38and the coach
23:39that he is
23:40my mind goes
23:41to Surakumar Yadav
23:42just on the eve
23:43of the final
23:43he was asked
23:44a question
23:45about Gambhir
23:45and he said
23:45you know what
23:47he's so involved
23:47with the team
23:48that maybe
23:50if you ask him
23:51today
23:51he might just
23:52pad up
23:52and if need be
23:53we'll go out
23:54to bat
23:55does that really
23:56sum up
23:56the character
23:57that Gautam is
23:58it does actually
23:59this is what I know
24:00about Gautam Gambhir
24:02he was a lovely
24:03cricketer
24:04fabulous cricketer
24:05and as I said
24:06earlier
24:07that I know him
24:08from under 16 days
24:09and he used to
24:09play to win
24:10every game
24:11then also
24:12so that's basically
24:13his character
24:13and whatever he does
24:15he gets so involved
24:16that you just
24:17have to leave him alone
24:18I mean he's
24:19going to make mistakes
24:20everybody does
24:21make mistakes
24:21he did one
24:22in this World Cup
24:23and rectified it
24:24straight away
24:25I mean you know
24:26when he played
24:26Washington Sundar
24:28in place of Aksar Patel
24:29but then
24:29in the next game
24:30brought back
24:31Aksar Patel
24:32and you know
24:33those smiles
24:34on Aksar Patel's face
24:36every time
24:37he went onto the field
24:38goes on to show
24:39that the coach
24:40and the captain
24:41have had a good word
24:42with him
24:42and given him
24:43that confidence
24:44that that was just
24:44that one-off game
24:45you are our mainstay
24:47he's the vice captain
24:47of the team as well
24:48so I think
24:50it makes a lot
24:50of difference
24:51if you have a coach
24:52like Gautam Gambhir
24:53I would really love
24:54to see him
24:55win test matches
24:57as well now
24:57for India
24:58because last couple
24:59of series
24:59he's not done
25:00too well
25:01and as you said
25:02he's had the criticism
25:03as well
25:03but he's somebody
25:04you know
25:05who takes criticism
25:06in a very positive
25:08manner as well
25:09I mean he works
25:10at his
25:11you know
25:11whatever mistakes
25:12he's made
25:13or whatever faults
25:14he has
25:14and he takes
25:16that criticism
25:17constructively
25:18which is very important
25:19you spoke about
25:20you spoke about
25:20you know
25:20one change
25:21that India made
25:22one error
25:23they made
25:23in fact
25:24bringing in
25:24Washington
25:24for Aksar Patel
25:27also the fact
25:28this is the final
25:30and there were doubts
25:31over an Abhishek Sharma
25:33should he continue
25:34or not
25:34he goes on to play
25:36gives you that start
25:37gives you that 50
25:38I'm sure
25:39if it was the captain
25:41there was a contribution
25:43from the coach as well
25:44to ensure
25:45that you go with
25:46the winning combination
25:47yeah and you know
25:48I was listening to
25:49Abhishek Sharma
25:49after the game
25:50and he said that
25:52you know
25:52this team
25:53has given me
25:54a lot of confidence
25:54they kept backing me
25:55even when I wasn't
25:56getting runs
25:57and that is why
25:58probably today
25:58I could go and do
25:59what I like to do
26:01on a cricket field
26:02you know
26:03like to dominate
26:03and that is exactly
26:05what he does
26:05and this is very important
26:07when a player
26:08is not doing well
26:09who you know
26:10is a match winner
26:11and you keep backing them
26:12you know
26:13you give them
26:14their confidence back
26:15if you see
26:16Varun Chakravarti also
26:17he's not bowled
26:18very well today
26:18but he was also
26:20there in the team
26:20so I think
26:21the team management
26:22has to get a lot
26:23of credit
26:24you know
26:25for giving these boys
26:26that confidence
26:27that they need it
26:27when they were not
26:28in very good form
26:29and they performed
26:30for the country
26:31Sani Gavaskar
26:32Harbajan Singh
26:33also with us
26:33Sai Bai to you
26:35you know
26:36one thing that we saw
26:37in the final
26:38is the pitch
26:40that was on offer
26:41and my mind
26:41goes back to
26:42again those two
26:43encounters in Ahmedabad
26:44which you lost
26:452023 final
26:46that lost to
26:47South Africa
26:48and on those occasions
26:49you got a bit of a tricky pitch
26:50black soil pitch
26:51which wasn't great
26:52or conducive to stroke making
26:54here
26:54you played the
26:55semi-final on a good pitch
26:57you played the final
26:58on a good pitch
26:58is there a lesson there
27:00then
27:00for Indian cricket
27:01that you know
27:02good pitches
27:03true pitches
27:04that's the best
27:05sort of a scenario
27:06for this Indian batting lineup
27:07because they're such
27:08good stroke makers
27:09you give them a good pitch
27:10and no team can come
27:12even close to you
27:12that's a lesson
27:13that can be taken forward
27:17yes because it's an all-round team
27:19it's no longer top heavy
27:21or bottom heavy
27:22as we used to call
27:23it's an all-round team
27:24you know
27:25it's got batting depth
27:26it's got batting variety
27:27in batting
27:28in the sense that
27:29there are technical players
27:30there are unorthodox players
27:32there are innovative players
27:34and then there are solid players
27:36similarly in the bowling
27:37there are attacking bowlers
27:39there are defensive bowlers
27:40there are bowlers
27:41who will try a little bit of magic
27:43and do something
27:45so this means that
27:47you know
27:47you don't really need
27:49any external help
27:50you have the challenge
27:52to overcome any challenges
27:54yes there will be a stumble
27:55now and again
27:56which is part of sport
27:57but yes
27:58I think
27:59the variety
28:00the depth of team
28:01the balance of team
28:03is something amazing
28:04ok Manitra
28:06I know there is no place
28:07for ifs and buts
28:08in cricket
28:09but I can't help but
28:10go back to
28:11you know
28:12that final
28:132023
28:14that pitch
28:15was an absolute minefield
28:18I just hope
28:19that we had a pitch like this
28:20at the same ground
28:21that Indian team
28:22was on a roll
28:23in that tournament
28:23didn't lose a single game
28:25I don't think
28:26any other team
28:26would have come
28:27I'm just trying to
28:28look back
28:29this sort of a good
28:30batting pitch
28:30and who knows
28:31you would probably
28:32even be the 50 over champions
28:34see you've got to forget
28:35about this home advantage
28:37thing
28:37you've got to put it
28:39in a basket now
28:39because you know
28:41Indian boys
28:42they're very talented boys
28:43and if you play
28:44on good surfaces also
28:45and if you believe
28:46in yourself
28:47like they did today
28:48you're going to win
28:50big tournaments
28:51so I think
28:52this home advantage
28:53thing
28:53has to be
28:55let out now
28:56because we've seen
28:57the last two test matches
28:58two test series
28:59also that we played
29:00make turning tracks
29:01make turning tracks
29:02and you couldn't play
29:03spin bowling yourself
29:03because the other teams
29:05came better prepared
29:06so I think
29:08this is very important
29:09that the team management
29:11if they tell you
29:12that we want
29:13this kind of a track
29:14tell them
29:14no we'll give you
29:15the track
29:15you play cricket on it
29:17because you're talented guys
29:18you've got the ability
29:19you can win matches
29:20on any kind of surface
29:21which I've been saying
29:22for the past 10-12 years
29:24and I think
29:26that mindset
29:27now
29:27is going to be
29:28very important
29:29and after this victory
29:30probably
29:31the team management
29:32the coach
29:33and the captain
29:34probably might
29:35stay away from the curator
29:36to advise him
29:38what kind of a surface
29:39they want to play on
29:40I hope that happens
29:42because not just
29:42in white ball cricket
29:43I think it will help us
29:45a lot in red ball cricket
29:46as well
29:46we've just had two
29:47massive reversals
29:49at home
29:49in red ball cricket
29:50maybe this is the solution
29:52to that as well
29:53but our continuous coverage
29:55continues
29:56we also want to listen in
29:57to the stars
29:59for India
30:00on the field
30:01we heard from
30:02Abhishek
30:02a short while ago
30:03from Varun Chakravarti
30:04let's also listen in
30:05to India's star
30:06or rounder
30:07Hardik Pandya
30:08after that
30:11I think
30:11in that fight
30:12there were a lot of
30:15there were a lot of
30:16things
30:17so it was more about
30:19that I'll give a redemption
30:20I'll give a 5-4 comeback
30:24this victory
30:25this was always
30:26I lived for
30:28I'll play cricket
30:30for this
30:30I won't win
30:31any trophies
30:32I won't win
30:32any trophies
30:33I won't win
30:34after Barbados
30:34I won't win
30:35any trophy I won't win
30:39the confidence
30:40that Hardik Pandya
30:41comes with
30:41you were talking about
30:42Surykumar Yadav
30:43you know that swagger
30:44that he has
30:45seems to run
30:46through this entire
30:47Indian team
30:47and Hardik's another example
30:49they're all characters
30:50if you talk to them
30:52individually
30:52they're all characters
30:53and that's very important
30:55you know
30:55they're different characters
30:56but the gel
30:57which is very important
30:59so yes
31:00I think Hardik Pandya
31:01is somebody
31:01who's you know
31:02after that injury
31:02a lot of people thought
31:04that he won't be able
31:05to play cricket
31:05for a long time
31:06but can you imagine
31:07the kind of hard work
31:08that he must have put in
31:09you can you know
31:10he can hear it
31:11when he's talking
31:12because when you
31:13work hard
31:14you've got that confidence
31:15and when you talk
31:16when you speak
31:18you can feel it
31:19that's right
31:20Hardik Pandya
31:20also one of those
31:22many contributors
31:23that you had
31:23in India's winning campaign
31:26of course
31:26who'll forget
31:27the all-round contribution
31:28that he had
31:29in the semi-final
31:30versus England
31:31that also ensured
31:32that one
31:33India got to that
31:34massive total
31:34and then chipped in
31:35with the ball as well
31:36that penultimate over
31:37that Hardik Pandya
31:38bowled
31:39in fact
31:39I could go on
31:40for hours
31:40if we discussed
31:41the individual performances
31:43of each of the players
31:45and how they contributed
31:46to India's victory here
31:47but in all of this
31:48we're getting to hear
31:49that you know
31:50we were discussing
31:51who should be
31:51the player of the tournament
31:52and Maninder was of the opinion
31:54that it should be
31:55Sanju Samson
31:55so I'm guessing
31:57you'd be delighted to hear
31:59it is Sanju
32:00who has been officially
32:01picked as
32:02the player of the tournament
32:04many believe
32:04he deserves
32:05that as well
32:06but before I get to Sanju
32:08I want to talk about
32:09Jaspreet Bumrah
32:09because somewhere deep down
32:11I wanted
32:12a Jaspreet Bumrah
32:13to get that
32:14you know
32:15he didn't get the
32:16man of the match
32:16last game
32:17in the semi-final
32:18many thought that
32:18he was the game changer
32:20and overall as well
32:21ends up as the
32:22second highest
32:23wicket taker
32:24but is it fair
32:25to look at
32:25Jaspreet Bumrah's
32:26contribution
32:27by just looking at
32:28the wickets column
32:29because what he does
32:30with the economy
32:31and that to bowling
32:32in the toughest parts
32:34of the overs
32:37what does that tell you
32:38what he brings to the table
32:39oh I think
32:40he's the leader
32:41of the pack
32:42as far as bowling
32:43is concerned
32:44and the best thing
32:45about him is
32:46whenever the captain
32:46throws the ball up to him
32:47he'll give his captain
32:49wickets
32:49if he doesn't get wickets
32:50then he'll make sure
32:51he doesn't give away
32:52too many runs
32:52so that there's pressure
32:53on the opposition
32:55batters
32:55so that when
32:56his teammates
32:57when his partners
32:58come to bowl
32:59they start getting wickets
33:00so this is what
33:01is special about him
33:02and another example
33:04you know I was talking
33:05about Hardik Pandya
33:06how hard he must have
33:07worked after that
33:08back injury
33:08back operation
33:09I think same goes
33:11for Jaspreet Bumrah
33:12as well
33:12and keeps bowling
33:13with that same action
33:14which must be having
33:15a lot of effect
33:16on his back
33:17but can you imagine
33:18the kind of hard work
33:20these two boys
33:21must be putting in
33:22you know to be
33:23on a cricket field
33:24to stay fit
33:25to stay strong
33:26it's not very easy
33:27but Jaspreet Bumrah
33:28he has been amazing
33:30and I think a lot
33:30of credit
33:31for his success
33:32in international cricket
33:33should go to
33:34Ravi Shastri
33:35and Virat Kohli
33:36as well
33:37because people used
33:38to think he's only
33:38a white ball bowler
33:41he can only play
33:42white ball cricket
33:42but they brought him
33:44into test match cricket
33:45and see what he's done
33:46in test match cricket
33:46as well
33:47so I think
33:47he's an amazing bowler
33:50he's got that kind
33:51of an action
33:52where it doesn't
33:54become very easy
33:55for the batters
33:56to read him
33:56and then he's got
33:57those slower deliveries
33:58he's got that yorker
33:59he can bowl that yorker
34:00at will
34:01and that can only
34:02come with hard work
34:03and the kind of hard work
34:04that he's put in
34:06to be playing for India
34:08he's getting the results
34:09he definitely is
34:10he is one of the heroes
34:12of this time
34:13if not
34:13the biggest hero
34:15the biggest hero though
34:16the player of the tournament
34:17as we just confirmed
34:18to you in India today
34:19is Sanju Samson
34:20we're calling him
34:21sensational Sanju
34:22and why not
34:23after
34:25three consecutive
34:26half centuries
34:26that the man has got
34:27in fact came so close
34:29on all those three occasions
34:30to get to the hundred
34:32hundred didn't come
34:33but the trophy did
34:34and I don't think he minds