India T20 squad sets platform for ODI, Test challenges despite limited prep

India's T20 squad has delivered a statement victory in New Zealand, securing a 3-2 series win against the hosts while operating under considerable constraints, according to head coach Gautam Gambhir.

The Shreyas Iyer-led team arrived in New Zealand just days before the opening match and faced an arduous schedule, with games conducted across four different venues and minimal recovery time between fixtures. Despite these challenges, the squad managed to edge out a quality opposition on home soil.

Gambhir highlighted the magnitude of the achievement during his address to the team following the series conclusion. "You can be extremely proud of the effort that you guys have given in this series. Winning the series especially when you got one day to prepare and playing against a quality team like New Zealand in their own backyard... you can be extremely proud and go back with your head held high," the coach said.

The head coach indicated that the T20 series success has created positive momentum heading into the remaining ODI and Test assignments on the tour. While acknowledging the squad's desire to win the final two T20 encounters, Gambhir emphasized that the team has "set the tone" for the remainder of the series, suggesting the psychological advantage gained could prove significant in the longer formats ahead.