'We need to win both': Gautam Gambhir asks team India to win 'every match' of series
India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy said head coach Gautam Gambhir has asked the team to aim for a win in every match, even after sealing the five-match T20I series against New Zealand. With India having won the first three games, the spinner said the team was treating the remaining two matches as a separate series and wanted to win both.
India entered the fourth T20I at Eden Park in Auckland after winning all three previous matches, with their batters leading the way. They were looking to extend their winning run and take a 4-0 lead in the series.
Speaking ahead of the match, Chakaravarthy said Gambhir had made the team's target clear from the start.
“The first thing GG told us that it's a five-match series and we look to win every match. So that's the goal. And the next two matches we'll be taking it as a two-match series. So we need to win both the matches,” he said.
India's batting had been particularly impressive in the third T20I, when they chased down a target of 199 with 40 balls to spare. Abhishek Sharma led the chase with a 38-ball 113. Chakaravarthy said it would be difficult for the batters to better that performance, but hoped they could produce something similar.
“I don't think you can top that, but I hope they can repeat that today. And yeah, they are used to playing in such pitches and such small venues. Yeah, so that played into our advantage for sure,” he said.
Chakaravarthy, who is yet to play a match in the series, also spoke about the competition for places in the Indian team. He said players needed to keep working on their game and performing consistently, given the amount of talent available in Indian cricket.
“Playing in India, the best thing that you want to happen for yourself is being in the contention. So you need to keep pushing yourself because there's so much talent coming. And you just can't have, if you go back home, you can't just rest. So it's just need to keep pushing yourself and try to do well,” he said.
Meanwhile, India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first in the fourth T20I. New Zealand posted 259 runs, setting India a target of 260, with Glenn Phillips scoring 107.
India entered the fourth T20I at Eden Park in Auckland after winning all three previous matches, with their batters leading the way. They were looking to extend their winning run and take a 4-0 lead in the series.
Speaking ahead of the match, Chakaravarthy said Gambhir had made the team's target clear from the start.
“The first thing GG told us that it's a five-match series and we look to win every match. So that's the goal. And the next two matches we'll be taking it as a two-match series. So we need to win both the matches,” he said.
India's batting had been particularly impressive in the third T20I, when they chased down a target of 199 with 40 balls to spare. Abhishek Sharma led the chase with a 38-ball 113. Chakaravarthy said it would be difficult for the batters to better that performance, but hoped they could produce something similar.
“I don't think you can top that, but I hope they can repeat that today. And yeah, they are used to playing in such pitches and such small venues. Yeah, so that played into our advantage for sure,” he said.
Chakaravarthy, who is yet to play a match in the series, also spoke about the competition for places in the Indian team. He said players needed to keep working on their game and performing consistently, given the amount of talent available in Indian cricket.
“Playing in India, the best thing that you want to happen for yourself is being in the contention. So you need to keep pushing yourself because there's so much talent coming. And you just can't have, if you go back home, you can't just rest. So it's just need to keep pushing yourself and try to do well,” he said.
Meanwhile, India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first in the fourth T20I. New Zealand posted 259 runs, setting India a target of 260, with Glenn Phillips scoring 107.
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