Ahead of the second Test against the West Indies, head coach Gautam Gambhir hosted a special team dinner at his residence in Delhi. India skipper Shubman Gill opened up about the evening, stressing how such informal gatherings strengthen team bonding beyond the cricket field.
A Relaxed Evening Before the Big Game
The second Test between India and the West Indies begins on Friday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, with India leading the series 1–0. To set the tone ahead of the match, Gambhir invited the players, support staff, and BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla for a team dinner on Wednesday night.
Gambhir arranged an open-air dinner, creating a light and easy-going atmosphere. Players arrived casually dressed — Gill sported a t-shirt, blue denim, and black glasses, while most of the squad, including Jasprit Bumrah, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Prasidh Krishna, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, and bowling coach Morne Morkel, opted for white outfits. Rajeev Shukla also joined the gathering.
“Important to Know Each Other Off the Field”
Speaking to the media ahead of the match, Gill highlighted the value of these team dinners.
“Team dinners, I think, used to happen before as well. Team dinners, in any tour, you go. So, most of the players are very busy. Many of the players have their own families. In the ground, we meet, spend a lot of time together. But a lot of conversations are limited. So, it is important that for any team, that you know each other off the field as well,” Gill said.
He added that these gatherings are a regular part of their routine, organized multiple times during a series.
“So, I think, the team dinners that we do, we try two or three times in every series, that the team comes together once, and there is a very light atmosphere,” Gill concluded.
Building Camaraderie Beyond the Pitch
India is coming off a dominant victory in the series opener in Ahmedabad, where they crushed the West Indies by an innings and 140 runs. As the team eyes a series sweep, moments like these off the field play a quiet but important role in building trust, unity, and camaraderie.
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