Mumbai, Nov 1 (FN Agency) Team India Coach Gautam Gambhir highlighted the elimination of “dead rubbers” in Test cricket, crediting the World Test Championship (WTC) points system for ensuring that every match carries significance. He stated that the championship framework has transformed the traditional format, bringing in renewed pressure and excitement. “For me, I think it’s good that World Test Championship points are very important because there are no dead rubbers anymore in Test. Every Test match has an importance,” Gambhir remarked. According to him, the championship’s structure incentivises teams to aim for results in every game, diminishing the likelihood of drawn matches, which he attributes to changes in both batting approaches and the impact of T20 cricket.
“Gone are those days…we’ll be able to see a lot of draws in Test because of the quality of batsmen and cricketing ability,” he added. Gambhir acknowledged that this shift has created a “combination of being under pressure every week because of the World Test Championship points,” suggesting that this pressure is beneficial for the sport’s future and for players’ adaptability across formats. Looking ahead, Gambhir expressed confidence that the continuous focus on winning could serve India well in their preparations for upcoming tours, particularly Australia, ensuring they “go with a win” mentality. Reflecting on 20 bowlers bowl at India batsmen in the nets, Gambhir replied, “I didn’t count how many bowlers were there. But the more the merrier. Probably to just make the guys bat longer and they were quality (bowlers) as well.
If they can bat longer in the nets, it’s better preparation.” He emphasised that the team often enjoys the luxury of facing a variety of bowlers at home, a stark contrast to tours in places like Australia, where such quality is rare. Gambhir also stressed the need for adaptability in Test cricket. “Test cricket needs to be played like Test cricket. We should be a side that can get 400 on a day if we need to get the result and we should be able to bat two days as well. That is what growth is and that is what Test cricket is all about.” He underlined that the format requires teams to adjust their strategies based on the situation at hand.