Gautam Gambhir and SKY in Sri Lanka 2024

The start of the Suryakumar Yadav-Gautam Gambhir partnership began with a win over Sri Lanka: here's what we learnt from day one of Indian cricket's 'new era'.

Gill will bat quicker

Shubman Gill's T20I returns – particularly the rate at which he fetches runs in the format – have been a cause for worry for some time now. In the Zimbabwe series that preceded the Sri Lanka tour, Gill was especially slow compared to the other opening contenders. Days ahead of the first T20I, he had admitted his shortcomings, and stated that new coach Gautam Gambhir's intent and communication was very clear.

In the first game of the Gambhir era, Gill's intent was pronounced, matching Yashasvi Jaiswal in a 74-run powerplay. It was his fastest T20I knock yet, and potentially the start of his reinvention in the format.

Also read: Shubman Gill's 16-ball blitz was enough proof he's begun his T20I changeover

Pant over Samson

Gautam Gambhir once called Sanju Samson "the best young batter in India". Not so young anymore, the 29-year-old Samson spent another matchday on the sidelines, as India preferred Rishabh Pant over him for the wicketkeeper's spot. The clamour for Samson would have grown louder when Pant struggled through the first half of his innings, scoring 20 off his first 20 balls. He managed to turn that into a 33-ball 49, aided by poor bowling and dropped catches. It's unlikely that the innings will affect his place in the team though, maintaining continuity from the T20 World Cup, when he was the designated wicketkeeper throughout. Samson, who hit a 45-ball 58 in his last game, is likely to stay on the bench for now.

 

 

 

We'll see more of Parag, the bowler

When Sri Lanka's pair for the second wicket was coasting along, the commentators wondered if trying out Riyan Parag could be worth it. Beyond him, India's bowling options were limited to five. He eventually did come, in the 17th over, and ran away with his team's best figures in an eight-ball spell.

It's something that could benefit India in the long-term: none of Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh or Yashasvi Jaiswal really bowl in T20Is. That gives Parag an edge over his competitors, and also lets India have Axar batting as low as eight. Parag's got 41 wickets at 30.17 in all T20s so far, with an economy of 7.24. Given the trust shown in him, expect that wickets column to steadily go up.

Throwing players in at the deep end

It's not just about using Parag, it's also when Parag was used. Before this game, he had just one over to his credit in internationals, but was summoned to bowl the 17th over, with 56 needed off the last 24 and six wickets in hand. Three balls in, he had his first scalp, turning one away from Kamindu Mendis to clean up his stumps. With the equation out of reach in the 20th, he returned to pick two more. 

But Parag's bowling entry point could mean players might be pressed into tricky circumstances and backed to perform under the new captain-coach regime.

 

 

 

Formula unlikely to be ripped up

Despite all the talk about change, it's still a team that's just won a T20 World Cup. Ahead of the game, captain Surya had said it was the same train but with a new engine, an indication that not a lot of drastic change would come into effect. In Pallekele, India largely maintained the same composition from the title-winning outfit last month: two spin-bowling all-rounders, a left-handed finisher, one specialist spinner and a left-arm, right-arm pace attack. It's a template that looks set continue in the near future, with tinkering based on conditions. 

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