Gambhir spells outlook as games come thick and fast

India coach stresses on backing players and the need to stay focused switching between formats

- Ashish Magotra

The first question of Gautam Gambhir's post-match press conference immediately put the West Indies Tests into perspective, by not being about the series itself.

It almost seemed to say that the series is done, now let us move on to serious business — the white-ball contests against Australia, the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and the two-Test home series against South Africa, the world Test champions, that will follow.

But with the current schedule being as packed as it is, Gambhir feels one can't look too far ahead.

“I think it is very important to stay in the present... that is something which is very important,” said the India head coach.

“Obviously they (Rohit and Virat) are quality players, they are coming back, their experience is going to be helpful in Australia as well. Hopefully those two guys will have a successful tour, and more importantly as a team we will have a successful series.”

But the overlap of formats is going to bring with it a set of challenges that the players will have to work hard, at an individual level, to overcome.

The first ODIs will be played in Perth on Sunday with the three-game series followed by five T20Is.