India head coach Gautam Gambhir began the build-up to the home T20 World Cup with a visit to Mumbai’s Shree Siddhivinayak Temple on Thursday. He offered prayers to Lord Ganesha ahead of the tournament. Batting coach Sitanshu Hargovindbhai Kotak accompanied him during the visit.
The defending champions will open their title defence on Saturday. They face the United States of America at the Wankhede Stadium. The venue is one of the most iconic grounds in Indian cricket.
Gambhir has followed a similar routine on recent tours. Earlier this season, he visited the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati before the third T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand. After that fixture, Gambhir and the Indian squad also sought blessings at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple in Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam, ahead of the fourth T20I.
Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India enter the tournament as one of the clear favourites. A successful campaign would see them become the first team to successfully defend a men’s T20 World Cup title. No host nation has ever lifted the trophy. India now have the opportunity to rewrite history. Preventing them from achieving both milestones will require something special.
India’s strength lies in their depth and balance in the shortest format. This squad is widely considered stronger than the side that went unbeaten across the USA and West Indies two years ago. Their last T20I series defeat came in August 2023. Since the previous World Cup, they have maintained an outstanding win-loss ratio of 6.5, a remarkable feat in a format known for unpredictability.
Preparation has been equally impressive. Under Suryakumar’s captaincy, India recently secured five-match T20I series wins against South Africa and New Zealand. Their dominance over the Proteas continued in the official warm-up match on Wednesday, where India registered a 30-run victory. With momentum firmly on their side, India now turn their focus to the opening clash against the USA.
