Before play began on Day 4 of the second Test match against South Africa at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, India head coach Gautam Gambhir gave the cricket players a motivational pep talk, raising his finger several times in an emotional conversation. With a 1-0 lead in the series, South Africa is clear favorites to win the second Test and take a 2-0 series victory. Even a tie would be a miraculous outcome for Team India, given how far behind they currently are.
During the team meeting ahead of Tuesdays game, Gambhir took charge, urging his squad to show resilience. Broadcasters aired footage from a press conference last year in which Gambhir emphasized that the Indian team should be ready to score 400 runs in a single day and, if necessary, bat for two days to salvage a Test match. His animated pep talk set the tone for the team.
Legendary Indian cricketer and broadcaster Anil Kumble commented on Gambhirs approach, stating that India needed to demonstrate character on the field, as they would not get another opportunity against the reigning World Test Champions.