India chased down 154 in just 10 overs in the third T20I on January 25 and completed the task with eight wickets in hand. The win gave the hosts an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series against New Zealand.
Reacting to the performance, Panchal took to social media to praise Gambhir’s influence on the team’s mentality.
“India never played this brand of T20 cricket until Gambhir Bhai took over the reins. This is a transformation, which is quite generational. A lot of credit to him for flipping the mentality and prioritizing always putting the team before himself,” Panchal wrote.
The results since Gambhir took over in mid-2024 provide strong statistical support for Panchal’s assessment. India have won 29 of their 33 completed T20Is under Gambhir, including 19 wins in their last 22 matches since the start of 2025. India had previously chased down 209 against the same opposition in just the 16th over during the second T20I.
While the T20 revival in India has been notable, Gambhir’s tenure in other formats has not been without its problems. The team suffered heavy defeats in the home Test series against South Africa and New Zealand, losing 2-0 and 3-0 respectively, and also relinquished the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to Australia with a 1-3 defeat.
There have also been positives. India recorded a commendable 2-2 draw in the Test series in England last year and went on to win the ICC Champions Trophy in the UAE without losing a match. However, ODI series defeats against Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand have dampened that success.
With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup starting on February 7, Gambhir’s biggest test lies ahead as India enters the tournament as defending champions.
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