India vs England: Gautam Gambhir comes up with a strong message for the Indian team

India are all set to kick off their 2025–27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with a high-profile series against England. With the team entering a fresh phase following the retirements of iconic figures like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, the spotlight now shifts to a younger core under the leadership of newly appointed Test skipper Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir. The duo addressed the squad in a team meeting as India began preparations at Beckenham, the site of their official training camp ahead of the series.

India vs England: Gautam Gambhir delivers an inspirational pep talk

Gambhir, known for his no-nonsense approach, laid out a bold and clear vision for the future, stressing the importance of resilience, discipline, and adaptability in the challenging English conditions. Alongside him, bowling coach Morne Morkel provided specific insights to the pace unit, outlining the tactical adjustments needed to succeed in the UK. The overall tone of the camp was one of transition and opportunity, with players being encouraged to embrace responsibility and contribute to a new chapter in Indian Test cricket. As the squad trained intensely at Beckenham, the focus remained sharp: to build a cohesive unit that can challenge top sides overseas and begin this new WTC journey on a strong note.

Several players from the recent India A tour, including promising talents like Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and the experienced Karun Nair, have now joined the senior Indian Test squad ahead of the England series. Their transition comes after India A’s competitive performances in two hard-fought, drawn matches against the England Lions. The exposure and match time in English conditions have added valuable experience to these players, who now look to make their mark at the highest level.

As the senior team continues its preparatory camp in Beckenham for the 2025–27 World Test Championship opener, head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the full-strength squad with a powerful message. During his pep talk, Gambhir underlined the immense pride and responsibility that comes with donning the Indian Test cap. He emphasised that Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the sport and urged the players to honour the tradition and values associated with it.

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𝗛𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸, 𝗳𝘁. 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 & 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻!#TeamIndia | #ENGvIND | @GautamGambhir | @ShubmanGill

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— BCCI (@BCCI) June 12, 2025

"All I want to say is there are two ways of looking at this group. One is that we are without our three most experienced players. We got this phenomenal opportunity to do something special for the country. I'm going to look around. It's in this group - I think the hunger, the passion and the commitment to do something special. I think we made sacrifices. If we come out of our comfort zone, if we start fighting not every day but every session, every hour, and every day, I think we can have a memorable tour. So, make sure we start that today only. I think start enjoying playing for the country because there is no bigger honour," stated India head coach Gautam Gambhir. 

India’s preparations for the upcoming World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle opener against England are in full swing at their training base in Beckenham. Pace spearheads Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna impressed during the initial sessions, hitting the right lengths and rhythm, signaling strong form ahead of the high-stakes series. Meanwhile, key batters Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul focused intently on sharpening their techniques, working closely with the coaching staff on tailored game plans suited for English conditions.

Newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill also put in the hard yards, leading from the front both with the bat and as a motivator. Ahead of the team’s only preparatory fixture — an intra-squad match scheduled this week — Gill addressed his teammates with a powerful message. He urged them to embrace the challenge of the England summer and not merely play to survive, but to thrive under pressure. The intra-squad clash will serve as a vital simulation in the absence of official warm-up games, and with a nearly full-strength squad, India is treating it as a dress rehearsal for the series. The team is clearly focused on starting this new WTC chapter with intent, intensity, and belief in their evolving Test identity.

"Let's make each and every net session meaningful. Let's prepare like that and let's put ourselves under a little bit of pressure when we are going out there and let's try to, it's not about going out there and surviving. Let's try to find out our game. How we gonna play when we will be put in the threshold. Whether be it bowlers or batters. And let's make the practice match and each and every net very meaningful. And let's play every ball. Let's play every ball with purpose," India captain Shubman Gill said.