Exclusive: Akshar Patel told the inside story, everyone feels that if Rahul Dravid goes and Gautam Gambhir comes…


New Delhi. There have been many changes in the Indian cricket team after winning the ICC T20 World Cup. Along with captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement from this format. The tenure of head coach Rahul Dravid ended and Gautam Gambhir was given this responsibility in his place. Team India’s all-rounder Akshar Patel shared his experiences with the new coach in an exclusive conversation with Vimal Kumar.

Akshar said, “From whatever I have talked to him till now, I have understood that he is very clear about his plan. He knows how to use me and what to do. He came to me and told me what we are thinking about you. What will be your role in the team. Such things happened in the current interaction which I found very interesting.”

Nothing much has changed
“Nothing much changes with Rahul Dravid leaving and Gautam Gambhir coming. Everyone thinks that the coach has changed, now this will happen, that will happen. There is so much hype on social media that now this will not happen, this will happen, that will happen, not much has changed. Basically, as far as you see, everything is the same. Yes, now when Rohit bhai and Virat bhai, Jaddu bhai retired in T20, some new faces will come, so it will take time for them to settle down. All those things happen here and there. Otherwise nothing has changed in the team, Gautam Gambhir is also easy going.”

If you give your 100% then winning or losing does not matter
“He knows everything, what my plan is and we talk to the players accordingly. That means whatever has happened in the last two series, three ODIs and three T20s, there hasn’t been much change in them. He has kept a simple principle. Why do we play matches, to win. What should be our plan, if you have given 100 percent for your team, then whatever the result may be, it doesn’t matter. In the end you should know that you have given 100 percent for your team.”

Tags: Axar patel, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit sharma