Aakash Chopra Backs Gautam Gambhir: Fearless T20 Approach is Present, Not Future

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has strongly backed head coach Gautam Gambhir following India’s dominant performance in the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand, saying consistent success in the shortest format deserves open recognition rather than hesitation.

India clinched the series with an unassailable 3-0 lead after winning the first three matches convincingly before suffering a 50-run defeat in the fourth game. Despite that loss, the series result extended India’s streak to nine consecutive T20I series wins since Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach, reinforcing the team’s continued supremacy in the format.

Chopra credited Gambhir for reshaping India’s T20 batting philosophy, emphasizing a fearless, aggressive approach that has transformed the side’s mindset. He noted that while Gambhir faced criticism during India’s inconsistent performances in Tests and ODIs, the team’s T20 success reflects clear strategic clarity. Chopra argued that if criticism is freely expressed during setbacks, praise should follow equally when results improve.

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Highlighting the tactical shift, Chopra said India’s current approach has unsettled opponents to the extent that even traditionally safe totals now feel inadequate. He pointed out that New Zealand’s bowling resources remained largely unchanged, but India’s intent and execution altered the contest entirely, breaking opposition confidence through sustained aggression.

Chopra also observed that in the past, overlap between India’s ODI and T20I squads diluted the attacking mindset needed for T20 cricket. Under Gambhir, he said, the team composition and roles appear more clearly defined. Players such as Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Rinku Singh were cited as embodying the aggressive identity that now defines India’s T20 setup.

While challenges remain in other formats, Chopra’s assessment underlined that India’s T20 resurgence under Gambhir is no coincidence but the result of deliberate planning and a clear commitment to modern, high-impact cricket.

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