England vs India: Gambhir wants Virat Kohli’s men to go into series with No. 1 side’s attitude

Former Indian captain and opener Gautam Gambhir wants Team India to play like the No. 1 Test side, irrespective of the conditions that they get in England during their five-Test series starting August 1. The cricketer, who is known for his on-field aggression, said Virat Kohli and his men should approach the series with a positive attitude and show the hosts they are the top-ranked Test side in the world at the moment.

Team India is ranked first in the ICC’s Test rankings with a rating of 125 while England is at No. 5 with a rating of 97. Gambhir, whose last Test was against England in Rajkot during the 2016-17 series, also supported the idea that the visitors should play five frontline bowlers and send a message to the opponents that their mission is to take 20 wickets. He said India should carry with them a bowling attack that could defend any score and if their batsmen didn’t click, the bowlers should be capable of dismissing the opponents.

Play like a number 1 side

Speaking on CricBuzz, 36-year-old said: “Irrespective of how the conditions are, try and play like a number 1 Test side in the world. Because you are here as the number 1 Test side. You try and express the opposition that we are here as a number 1 Test side in the world. Try to go with the attitude and try to go irrespective of what the results are.”

He said the bowlers should be so prepared that even if the batsmen get dismissed for 250-300, they get the job done. The former batsmen, who played 58 Tests for India (12 of which were against England) between 2004 and 2016, focused on a “winning mindset” during the Test series.

That Gambhir backed the bowlers as the key for winning Test matches and series became evident again when he said that “bits and pieces” bowling would only reveal a defensive mindset and that has less possibility of succeeding in Test cricket.

Former Indian speedster Zaheer Khan, who was also present on the panel, said Team India should work more on the process. He said if they could replicate the approach they had shown in South Africa earlier this year and put up a strong show, the results would follow.

For all the latest cricket news and other updates follow CricTracker.