The Revsportz team finished yet aother gruelling day of daily shows and detailed planning for the rest of the Asia Cup 2025 and then braved peak Dubai traffic to head to the press conference, and then the ICC Academy. The Indian team had an optional practice session and they spent the evening imbibing the quiet confidence that the players brought to the session. The eveing turned pleasant as the sun set and a gentle breeze made us contemplate on the events of the last few days.
The crack of bat on ball was accompanied by laughter, smiles and a sense of lightness that stood in sharp contrast to the tense circumstances swirling around this Asia Cup. It wasn’t just practice; it was an exhibition of how a team can look both focused and free, dignified yet exuberant. It was in short, a statement of intent.
Suryakumar Yadav was at his brilliant best. His repertoire of strokes – square drives, flicks and lofted shots came out in full flow, a reminder of why he remains India’s x-factor in white-ball cricket. Alongside him, Rinku Singh unleashed a power-hitting display that was both clean and commanding. These weren’t players weighed down by politics or distractions; they looked men liberated by preparation.
Arshdeep Singh worked through his rhythm at the nets, bending his back with intensity, while Harshit Rana, the young quick, brought energy and aggression to his spells, eager to prove himself on the big stage. Tilak Varma looked calm and purposeful, timing the ball sweetly and displaying the composure of a seasoned pro. Jitesh Sharma, with his powerful hitting, added to the sense of depth and versatility in this squad.
Around them, warm-ups morphed into contests of speed and agility, fielding drills into laughter-tinged competitions. The catching sessions saw players competing with childlike enthusiasm, every successful grab punctuated with a cheer. For a team under scrutiny, this was the image India wanted to project: buoyant, disciplined and in control of their narrative.
This collective spirit is no accident. It has been carefully nurtured by the team management under Gautam Gambhir’s stewardship. Known for his intensity and uncompromising standards, Gambhir has displayed another facet of leadership in recent weeks — one that balances rigour with empathy.
Rather than letting the external noise filter into the dressing room, he has built a cocoon of calm. His approach has been to let cricket, not chatter, dominate the discourse. The players, in turn, have responded with visible clarity and confidence. Gambhir’s management is a lesson in creating an environment where skill can flourish without fear, and where players can remain insulated from distractions while still feeding off collective energy.
In any high-stakes tournament, particularly when geopolitics hovers in the background, the temptation for administrators and players alike is to overreact. Some teams resort to tight restrictions, gag orders, or defensive rhetoric. India have chosen a subtler path.
By focusing on preparation, maintaining dignity in public and allowing players to enjoy the game, the team has sent out a quiet but powerful message: calmness is strength. This is crisis management not through noise, but through silence; not through statements, but through smiles. The absence of drama is itself a form of authority. On Friday, we head to Abu Dhabi for the match against Oman and then back to Dubai for another showdown on Sunday.
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