India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir gave a witty response when he was asked if captain Shubman Gill might need a mental conditioning coach after the team’s Test win over the West Indies in Delhi. During the post-match press conference, Gambhir, who celebrated his 44th birthday on Tuesday, called the series victory his birthday gift. He responded with humour when questioned about Gill’s ability to cope with leadership pressure.

“First, I’d need one myself,” Gambhir quipped in response to an NDTV question.

“This is my birthday present. A coach is only as good as the team,” he added.

When asked about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s prospects in ODIs with the 2027 World Cup in sight, Gambhir replied firmly, emphasising the importance of staying focused on the present.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have stepped away from Test and T20I cricket, have been included in India’s ODI squad led by Shubman Gill for the upcoming series against Australia, beginning on 19 October in Perth. Kohli reached New Delhi early on Tuesday and is expected to join the team before their departure to Australia on 15 October.

“The World Cup is still a couple of years away, and for now, the key is to stay in the moment. We’ve got experienced players returning, and their knowledge will be important in Australia. Hopefully, the two of them have a great tour — and even more importantly, the team performs well together,” Gambhir said after the match.