Former Indian bowling coach Bharat Arun has showered praise on head coach Gautam Gambhir for getting the best out of the T20I team. Arun said the former Indian opener gives all the freedom to his players and works out the team’s strategy with guile. 

Arun has worked with Gambhir for Kolkata Knight Riders when both these coaches played an instrumental role in guiding the franchise to glory in IPL 2024.

India has been terrific under Gambhir’s tutelage in T20Is and will enter the upcoming T20 World Cup as favorites.

“He gives you that freedom to express yourself. With Gambhir, my experience is that what you see is what you get. He is a tough task master, but he defines the process, and it is up to you to find ways to get those processes right. I think because of the experience of the Indian team, and their experience in the IPL, we have become a formidable T20 team,” Bharat Arun told RevSportz.

Arun also gave credit to the Indian Premier League for playing a key role in developing Indian players.

“I have seen all the leagues around the world, and I would definitely say that the IPL is the highest standard. It is close to international cricket, to have 10 teams, where any team can win. If you play in a format like this, along with the greats of the game, and when you perform in this league, you know you have arrived,” Bharat Arun added.

Speaking on the dew, Arun said the bowlers must practice with a wet ball to prepare themselves in a best possible manner.

“You can prepare for dew. The best thing is to bowl with a wet ball. Some of the batters don’t want to bat against a wet ball because most of the bats get spoiled in practice. It is also a challenge for a bowler, and as a bowling unit, they should be practicing with a wet ball. They need to figure out a way to get the grip, so that their bowling does not suffer. That would be a challenge,” he concluded.

India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against the USA on February 7.