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Gautam Gambhir Takes Aim At Critics, Says: 'I Want To Win Trophies, Views And...'
Shivam Sharma | August 23, 2026 2:41 PM CST

India takes on Sri Lanka in the second and final Test of the series from Sunday, August 23, with the visitors holding a 1-0 lead. After their 165-run victory in Galle in 1st Test, India will now look to complete a series sweep in Colombo.

Ahead of the match, India head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the media and responded strongly to questions surrounding the team and his approach. Known for his straightforward views, Gambhir once again made headlines with his comments.

‘My job is to win trophies’

Gautam Gambhir made it clear that social media reactions and rankings are not his priority. He said his focus is firmly on winning trophies for the Indian team.

“My job is to win trophies; it is not to garner likes and views on social media. Rankings do not matter to me.”

He also acknowledged that India are currently going through a transition period, which can naturally result in some inconsistent performances. However, Gambhir insisted that the team has maintained a strong level of performance, particularly since the England tour.

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Gambhir addresses injury concerns

The India coach also spoke about the recurring injury issues affecting the squad. Several key players have missed the ongoing Sri Lanka series, and Gambhir revealed that the matter has been discussed within the team management.

He stressed that the objective is to keep India’s best players available for as much cricket as possible. According to Gambhir, greater player availability would help the team maintain continuity while allowing the management to work consistently with its core group.

India are currently fifth in the World Test Championship standings, behind Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh. However, Gambhir reiterated that rankings are not something he is overly concerned about, with trophies remaining his primary target.

India aim to seal series in Colombo

The second Test will be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo from August 23, starting at 10:00 AM IST.

India will enter the contest with a 1-0 advantage after their convincing win in Galle. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back and level the series on home soil.

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