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In a moment that reflected calm leadership and old-school bonding, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir opened the doors of his Delhi residence to the entire Team India squad on Sunday evening, hosting a team dinner ahead of their T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage clash against Namibia. With expectations soaring and the tournament intensity gradually building, the gathering offered players and support staff a welcome pause away from floodlights, nets, and strategy boards.
India, who are co-hosting the global event, arrived in the national capital after edging past the USA in a tricky opening Group A encounter. Before shifting full focus to the February 12 contest at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Gambhir’s gesture brought a homely touch to an otherwise demanding schedule.
Viral visuals capture warm reception at Gautam Gambhir’s home
A short video clip from the evening has since gone viral across social media platforms, showing Indian players arriving at the coach’s residence and being personally greeted by Gambhir and his family. The smiles, handshakes, and relaxed body language painted a picture far removed from match-day nerves.
Among those present were captain Suryakumar Yadav, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, and young opener Abhishek Sharma, alongside the rest of the playing group and support staff. The informal setting underlined Gambhir’s belief in fostering personal connections, especially during long tournaments where mental freshness can be as vital as physical fitness.
Here’s the video:
कोच @GautamGambhir के घर भारतीय टीम… pic.twitter.com/dxH9JQ4N7z
— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) February 8, 2026
Not a one-off gesture from the head coach
This dinner wasn’t an isolated act. During his coaching tenure, Gambhir has often leaned on familiarity and comfort to strengthen team culture. A similar gathering was organised last year during the home Test series against the West Indies, an initiative that was well received within the dressing room. Such moments, though away from the spotlight, often play a quiet role in shaping team unity.
Also WATCH: Suryakumar Yadav pokes fun at Arshdeep Singh after India’s thrilling win over USA in T20 World Cup 2026
India eye momentum against Namibia
On the cricketing front, India will be keen to carry momentum into their second Group A fixture against Namibia on February 12 at Arun Jaitley Stadium. The Men in Blue began their campaign with a 29-run win over the USA, though the performance came with a few concerns.
India’s batting struggled for fluency, with wickets falling at regular intervals. The standout, however, was skipper Suryakumar, whose commanding 84 off 49 balls anchored the innings and lifted India to a defendable total. The bowlers then stepped up collectively to seal the win.
Against Namibia, fans will expect a more complete display, especially from the batting unit. With home conditions and crowd support on their side, India will look to stamp their authority early and reinforce their status as tournament favourites.
Also READ: ICC–PCB talks in Lahore as Pakistan rethinks India match boycott at T20 World Cup 2026
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
