Kirsten Celebrates India’s Strong Performance in England
Former South Africa cricketer and India’s head coach, Gary Kirsten, is thrilled with Gautam Gambhir for leading the Indian team to a drawn series in England. Under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, the team came back to tie the five-match series 2-2, thanks to an exciting six-wicket victory in the fifth Test at the Oval. Mohammed Siraj was a key player, achieving his career-best match figures of 9/190 and helping India chase down a target of 374 runs in a dramatic final innings.
This series marks the second time India has finished level in England, following a similar 2-2 result earlier in the 2021-22 series with Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah at the helm. After India’s impressive win, Kirsten took a moment to praise Gambhir and expressed his continued excitement about the team’s success.
“I’m really happy for the Indian cricket team for leveling the series; it’s a great achievement for Indian cricket. I’m especially pleased for Gautam Gambhir, whom I know well. I’m thrilled with what he has accomplished with the team. They are doing really well at the moment. It’s exciting to see such a talented group of young players emerging,” Kirsten shared at an event organized by Yugen Infra in Delhi.
Kirsten also reminisced about his time as a coach for India, recalling a memorable moment when he helped fast bowler Ishant Sharma improve his batting skills. This guidance played a major role in India’s nail-biting Test match win against Australia in Mohali back in 2010.
“One memorable highlight during my time with the Indian team was getting Ishant Sharma to work on his batting at the nets. He faced 48 balls in a tense match against Australia alongside VVS Laxman. That was a personal highlight because he didn’t believe he could bat well. While he may not be a great batsman, his effort helped us secure a thrilling win,” Kirsten reflected.
In that match, as India chased a target of 216, they found themselves at a precarious 124/8 when Ishant partnered with VVS Laxman at the crease. With a crucial 81-run partnership, Ishant scored 31 runs, a record high for him until he later achieved his first half-century in 2019 against the West Indies. After his dismissal at 205, India needed just 11 runs with one wicket remaining. Ultimately, Laxman (73* off 79) alongside Pragyan Ojha steered the team to a dramatic one-wicket victory, securing a 1-0 lead in the series.
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Published By: Rishabh Beniwal
Published On: Aug 7, 2025
