India head coach Gautam Gambhir cautioned in his first on-camera speech in the Indian dressing room after starting his coaching career on a high note with a 3-0 sweep of the T20I series against Sri Lanka. India’s three-match T20 series in Sri Lanka was their first under coach Gambhir and new captain Suryakumar Yadav, and it marked the start of a new era in the game’s shortest format. Gambhir and Suryakumar finished off with flying colors.

Guys, congratulations on a great series win. Congratulations to Surya as well, outstanding captaincy and with the bat as well. I asked for something before the start of the game and you absolutely delivered it. This is what happens when you keep fighting, and when you don’t give up, Gambhir told the team.

These kinds of games happen and the only way these key games can happen in favor is when we keep fighting on every delivery and for every run and this was the example, he added. Some of the guys who will not be a part of the 50-overs format will have a longer break, so make sure when you come back for the Bangladesh series, you can take a break. You deserve it, but more importantly, keep your skills and especially your fitness levels high, the Indian head coach asserted.

You don’t want to come for that series thinking ‘Okay, I can just turn up, probably deliver for the team’. So, make sure that from the fitness point of view, the fitness levels are right up there, Gambhir concluded.