Gautam Gambhir was delighted as the India National Cricket Team had made a winning start to their all-format tour of New Zealand by clinching the five-match T20I series 3-2. Despite getting very little time to prepare after their home series against West Indies, the Indian players delivered a strong performance and managed to take an unassailable 3-0 lead before losing the final two matches.

The Indian head coach was really happy with the team's effort and praised the players for handling the difficult conditions in New Zealand. However, he has already given the T20I specialists another important task as they prepare for their next assignment against Sri Lanka. Earlier, Ambati Rayudu makes special request to Pragyan Ojha for Kuldeep Yadav ahead of IND vs NZ ODIs.

Gautam Gambhir hails India's effort after 3-2 T20I series win against New Zealand

Gautam Gambhir appreciated the Indian players for their hard work and commitment during a dressing-room meeting after the T20I series against New Zealand.

He reminded them that they had only one day to prepare for the New Zealand challenge after completing their home series against West Indies. Yet, they managed to beat a quality New Zealand side in their own conditions.

Gambhir said in a video shared by BCCI, "You can be extremely proud of the effort that you guys have put in throughout the series. Winning the series, especially when you had just one day to prepare and were playing against a quality team like New Zealand in their own backyard, is a terrific achievement. You should be extremely proud.”

Gambhir also made it clear that the T20I team had successfully completed the responsibility given to them before the tour. His plan was to help India start the New Zealand tour on a winning note so that the ODI and Test teams could carry the same confidence forward.

Gautam Gambhir gives big responsibility to India's ODI and Test teams after T20I series win

India will now move towards the five-match ODI series against New Zealand, which begins on November 4. Gambhir believes the T20I players have created a positive atmosphere, and the responsibility is now on the ODI and Test squads to continue the good work on the tough tour.

Although India wanted to win the final two T20Is as well, Gambhir was satisfied with the overall result. He encouraged the players to return home with confidence. Amid this, Rishabh Pant gets another chance to prove fitness ahead of New Zealand Tests.

Gambhir added, “You can go back with your heads held high. We wanted to win the last two games as well, but sometimes these things happen. I thought you guys have set the tone for the rest of the tour. Before the start of the series, I said that you had the responsibility to set the tone. Now, it is up to the ODI and Test teams to continue from where you have left off.”

Gautam Gambhir sends strong warning to India's T20I stars ahead of Sri Lanka series

However, Gambhir did not want the T20I specialists to become relaxed after their success in New Zealand. India's next T20I assignment will be a three-match home series against Sri Lanka, starting on December 22. The players will have around a month to break before that challenge begins.

Gambhir reminded them that India do not get enough opportunities to play T20 cricket regularly. Therefore, he wants every player to use this break wisely, remain fit, and continue preparing for the upcoming series. He also warned the players against underestimating Sri Lanka.

He signed off by saying, “We know that we don’t play enough T20 cricket, and we’ve got a month off now. So, make sure we stay in shape and prepare well for Sri Lanka. We can’t take any opposition lightly. We have to continue growing as a team, thinking as a team and playing as a team.”