Mumabi: After winning the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 under Gautam Gambhir, he now has his eyes set on the T20 World Cup next year. Gambhir has a plan clear white-ball formats with little or no ‘overlap’ between teams. He wants to run separate squads for ODIs and T20Is so that a player plays one format or the other.
Gambhir suggested that T20 cricket is more about current form than past glory. This is indicative of recent performances in the T20I format, where India has been doing well with some scintillating results with a dynamic team. Even the staggering fact that men playing for the 17th T20I under Suryakumar Yadav as captain in the last 20 T20Is have won a whopping 17, with several over 200s. In 2024, India piled up 297 runs in a T20I against Bangladesh.
This IPL will also be an important talent scouting opportunity ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. In T20 cricket, Gambhir has faith in the current form of the players playing well in the league, which is great news for players willing to miss the World Cup, as they have a good chance to get selected as they can still be relevant if they do well in the league.
According to a report from The Times of India, Gambhir has claimed that the introduction of clear roles for players has brought success to the T20 team. Others, barring a handful of the elite, will specialise in ODIs or T20Is as the future unfolds.
This gangster-like Gambhir play will prove decisive, making Indian cricket more strategic and effective. This lets players progress in the game according to their skill set while also making the team more even and competitive. It has raised hopes for the new approach to finding success in Indian cricket, and with Gambhir leading from the front, it ensures that Indian cricket continues to remain at the top.