On Tuesday, January 21, ahead of the five-match T20I series against England, India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, was spotted offering prayers at the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata. The series is set to begin on Wednesday, January 22, with the opening match scheduled at Eden Gardens.

After the T20I series, India will take on England in a three-match ODI series. The focus will then turn to the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where India is in Group A with Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand.After the T20I series, India will take on England in a three-match ODI series. The focus will then turn to the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where India is in Group A with Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand.

Rohit Sharma and his team will kick off their campaign with a match against Bangladesh on February 20, with all of India’s matches being held in Dubai.

In preparation for these important fixtures, head coach Gautam Gambhir visited the renowned Kalighat Temple in Kolkata to offer his prayers.

Gambhir has faced challenges in achieving the desired outcomes, with India suffering a 2-0 loss in a bilateral ODI series to Sri Lanka, marking the first defeat in 27 years. This was followed by a 3-0 loss to New Zealand in a home Test series, the first such defeat in 12 years. Most recently, India failed to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade. Amid increasing criticism, England’s head coach Brendon McCullum defended the 43-year-old during a press conference ahead of the first T20I, highlighting Gambhir’s leadership.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with Gautam Gambhir, and I can confidently attest to his exceptional leadership. He’s a strong and decisive leader who knows how to guide his team effectively. In all the leadership roles he’s held, he’s consistently excelled and delivered impressive results.”

He’s just getting started with this team, but I have no doubt he’ll bring out the best in the talent at his disposal. Now, it’s up to us (England) to find a way to counter that with our own approach,” he added.

McCullum, who played under Gambhir’s captaincy for Kolkata Knight Riders during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, helped the franchise secure their maiden title in 2012.