diri-au.org – Fashion & Cultural Identity Commentary

Team India enjoyed a special dinner hosted by coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the second Test against the West Indies in Delhi. Fresh off a dominant innings and 140-run victory in Ahmedabad, where Jadeja starred and the pace attack impressed, the squad is geared up for the series decider come Friday.

Former spinner R. Ashwin urges Indian cricket management to improve how senior players like Kohli and Rohit are handled. He stresses the importance of transparent communication and knowledge transfer, not just about batting, but also about managing pressure and injuries. Ashwin believes a clear roadmap is crucial for a smooth transition, preventing speculation and leaving players in a vulnerable position.

Varun Chakravarthy credits Gautam Gambhir for instilling a “Spartan mentality” in Team India, leaving no room for mediocrity. The mystery spinner thrived on his international comeback, starring in the ICC Champions Trophy and Asia Cup with key wickets. Partnering effectively with Kuldeep Yadav, Varun emphasized his attacking role, strategy in death overs, and the importance of specialists in T20 cricket, highlighting the trust and guidance from Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav.

IND vs WI, 1st Test preview: India will head into a home Test series without Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and R Ashwin for the first time in more than a decade. With the scars of a 0-3 loss to New Zealand still remaining fresh, Shubman Gill and his men will not take the West Indies lightly. With wet weather forecast, the conditions in Ahmedabad may not be straightforward. 

Kuldeep Yadav's coach, Kapil Dev Pandey, lauded his student's stellar performance in India's Asia Cup 2025 victory over Pakistan. Pandey revealed Kuldeep's disciplined aggression, fueled by past frustration, helped him dismantle Pakistan's "kids" team, as Kuldeep reportedly called them, by focusing on batters' stances and strategic bowling.

India’s Abhishek Sharma credited coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav for instilling the confidence to play fearless cricket in the Asia Cup 2025. Speaking after India’s five-wicket win over Pakistan, Sharma praised their support and leadership, reflected on his personal journey, and took a subtle swipe at the ACC over the champions being denied the trophy.