India-England Test series | ‘There is no bigger honour...’: Gautam Gambhir's pep talk to players ahead of training goes viral

Test cricket is well and truly back in the Indian cricket team's agenda as the preparations heat up for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, scheduled to start from June 20. Shubman Gill's men hit their training schedules from last Saturday (June 7) and over the days, net sessions have been going on at full tilt in the Indian camp.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the entire squad to give a motivational speech ahead of the practice sessions. The 43-year-old was sharp in his wordings and, true to his style, spoke with authority. The Test series marks the start of India's transition in the longest format under new captain Shubman Gill. It is also the first assignment for the side after the retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin. The trio's exit has created a massive void but Gambhir chose to see it positively.

"There are two ways of looking at this tour," Gambhir told the team huddle. "One is that we are without our three most experienced players, or that we have this phenomenal opportunity to do something special for the country. When I look around in this group, I see the hunger and passion to do something special."

The retirements of Kohli and Rohit mean a new-look batting order will be on show during the England Tests. While more clarity is awaited on the roles of various batters, Gambhir and Gill are aware that the task at hand is a monumental one. Historically, India's batters have seldom performed as a collective force in English conditions, except in the occasional series. The previous tour in 2021-22 was a relatively fruitful one for the visitors, as the series ended 2-2 with the final Test rescheduled by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic in between. India's current batting unit, though short on experience, does have plenty of talent and Gambhir urged his men to be brave.

"If we make sacrifices, if we come out of our comfort zones, if we start fighting, not every day but every session, every hour and every ball, then I think we can have a memorable tour. So, make sure that we start that from today only. Start enjoying playing for the country because there is no bigger honour."

Gill echoed his coach's sentiments of replicating the match intensity during training sessions. Always a strong advocate of hardcore practice stints, the 25-year-old hopes that his mates can think on their feet while handling adverse match situations. England's Test cricket strategies have seen a revamp since 2022 under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, with the 'BazBall' strategy of extreme aggression taking opponents by surprise. However, it has also been a tactic that has backfired for them at times, and Gill knows that the need of the hour is for his team to be street-smart. For his young side to withstand the onslaught, preparation will have to be meticulous.

"Let's make each and every net session meaningful," said Gill in the team huddle.

"Let's prepare like that and put ourselves under pressure when we are going out there. It's not about going there and surviving. Let's try to find out our game, how we are going to play when we are put under pressure, whether be it bowlers or batters. Let us make our practice matches and net sessions meaningful, let's play every ball with purpose."

Three Indian players - Sai Sudharsan, Arshdeep Singh and Karun Nair – were welcomed by Gambhir at the beginning of his speech. While Sudharsan and Singh have gained their first call-ups to the Test squad, it is a comeback after eight years for Nair who last featured in 2017. Gambhir ensured that each of three players were made to feel at home straightaway.

"I want to welcome Sai who had a fabulous last three months with the bat and I'm sure you will ensure that you have a very good red-ball career as well."

"I also want to welcome Arsh (Arshdeep), you have been phenomenal in white-ball cricket. I'm sure you are going to make it count in red-ball cricket as well."

"Comebacks are never easy, someone who has made a comeback after seven years, Karun. You have had a phenomenal last one year, the amount of runs you have scored and most importantly, that never-say-die attitude is something that has got you back in the team, and that is inspiring for this entire group."

India are scheduled to play an intra-squad game against India A apart from a tour game at Beckenhem, before the start of the Test series.