Former India opener Gautam Gambhir encouraged the team to re-adjust its concentration and think about the ODI series they lost in Bangladesh and not put a lot of spotlight on individual achievements.
India’s great batter Virat Kohli couldn’t get a hat-trick of ODI hundreds, having been dismissed for just 4 runs of 9 balls in the 2nd ODI against Sri Lanka.
In his last two one-day games against Sri Lanka in the first ODI and Bangladesh in the 3rd ODI, the batter had raised successive centuries. However, luck didn’t favor him in Kolkata.
Ahead of the start of India’s batting, however, former India opener Gautam Gambhir encouraged the team to re-adjust its concentration and think about the ODI series they lost in Bangladesh and not put a lot of spotlight on individual achievements.
During the mid-innings break, Gambhir said that although individual achievements are very important, the focus should be on doing well collectively.
“We should not forget that India lost their last series in Bangladesh. We have forgotten about it. Yes, individual brilliance is very important, very crucial, and individual hundreds are very important. It looks very nice when it comes to your record, that you’ve gotten 50 hundred or 100 hundred. But, we should never forget what has happened in Bangladesh because that is got to be a huge learning.
“India’s full strength side losing to Bangladesh in Bangladesh, I think we should grow from there rather than thinking and focusing on this series as what has happened in the past shouldn’t be forgotten,”
Gambhir said on Star Sports during the discussion.
After the first ODI against Sri Lanka, Kohli also talked about his struggles before the Asia Cup 2022. But, Kohli scored his 71st international hundred during the tournament, against Bangladesh, and has since proceeded to score a couple of more hundreds in one-day cricket.
“When I came back relaxed for the Asia Cup, I started enjoying the practice. I started enjoying training again. This is how I have always played my cricket. What I will say is that if you feel a little bit of desperation; always take two steps back, rather than pushing more and more. Because then things will start to go away from you,”
Kohli had said in a chat with Suryakumar Yadav.
With 20 ‘home’ ODI hundreds to his name, Kohli would pursue Sachin Tendulkar’s record as he takes the field in the 3rd and final ODI against Sri Lanka on Sunday.