Mumbai buzzed with anticipation as Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir made a spiritual pit stop at the iconic Siddhivinayak Temple on Thursday, just days before the T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off on February 7. Seeking blessings from Lord Ganesha, Gambhir prayed fervently for India’s triumph in the high-stakes tournament co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
This isn’t Gambhir’s first rendezvous with divinity ahead of crucial series. Earlier this year, he visited the Baglamukhi Temple in Madhya Pradesh before the ODI series against New Zealand. Midway through that tour, he paid homage at the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, and during the subsequent T20Is, he offered prayers at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. Gambhir’s faith-driven approach has become a hallmark of his coaching tenure.
Team India is riding high on momentum. They clinched the T20 series against New Zealand 4-1, showcasing ruthless dominance. In Wednesday’s warm-up clash against South Africa, the men in blue delivered another clinical performance, fine-tuning their preparations for the global showdown.
Appointed head coach in 2024, Gambhir has transformed India’s white-ball setup. Under his guidance, the team lifted the Asia Cup trophy last year and sharpened their T20 edge. His aggressive tactics and man-management skills have instilled belief in the squad.
India’s campaign begins against the USA on February 7, followed by Namibia on the 12th. The blockbuster India-Pakistan clash is slated for February 15, though uncertainty looms as the Pakistani government has withheld clearance for their team to travel. India wraps up the league stage against Netherlands on February 18.
The star-studded Indian squad features Suryakumar Yadav as captain, alongside Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh. With Gambhir’s blessings secured, all eyes are on whether Bappa’s grace will propel India to glory.