IND vs WI 2nd Test: Darren Sammy invites Gautam Gambhir to talk to West Indies players after series whitewash in India
West Indies might have lost the Test series 0-2 against India but they showed incredible fight in the second innings of the second Test.
In the final Test at New Delhi, the visitors showed real spirit and forced India to bat again after being asked to follow on. Their second-innings fightback helped them stretch the game into the fifth day. India won by seven wickets, but the fight from the Caribbean side impressed many.
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After the match, a special moment unfolded in the West Indies dressing room. Head coach Daren Sammy invited his Indian counterpart Gautam Gambhir to address his players and inspire them.
What followed was a passionate and honest speech from Gambhir and he urged the Caribbean players to believe in themselves and play with purpose.
Why did Daren Sammy invite Gautam Gambhir to the West Indies dressing room?
After the match, Sammy felt his young team needed to hear from someone who has lived the highs and lows of elite cricket.
He wanted Gambhir to share what it takes to build consistency and mental toughness at the top level.
“Gautam is coaching an elite side right now. I wanted my boys to listen to his experiences, the kind of mindset it takes to stay competitive and achieve success,” Sammy told his team before introducing Gambhir.
What did Gautam Gambhir tell the West Indies players?
Gambhir began by appreciating the West Indies team for their attitude and spirit on and off the field. He said it’s always a privilege to play against the Caribbean side because of their humility and grace.
He then urged the team to play with a sense of purpose. According to Gambhir, purpose matters more than passion as it keeps players going when things get tough.
He praised their second-innings fight in the Delhi Test and said that the same attitude could guide West Indies cricket forward.
Gambhir also reminded the players that cricket is a team sport and every contribution, big or small, matters.
In his closing words, Gambhir gave a powerful reminder of what West Indies cricket means to the world. "You might feel I’m just saying this just for the sake of it, but it is from the heart- World cricket needs West Indies cricket, not the other way around," he told the players.
Gambhir wanted them to know that the legacy of West Indies cricket still matters, and the next generation has the power to bring that greatness back.
