India won the T20I series 3-2 against New Zealand.
India only had time for one practice match under the new conditions prior to the start of the series, with the first game on 22 October in Christchurch. India managed to win the first three matches despite suffering from jet lag and poor preparations.
"Look, first of all, obviously it's an incredible effort because the boys got only one day to prepare. They arrived on the 20th (of October), and we practiced on the 21st... different conditions, different weather conditions, different dimensions, playing against a quality side like New Zealand in their own backyard with the amount of experience they had in T20 cricket, plus most of the boys were touring New Zealand for the first time. Boys can be extremely proud of their efforts, especially when you hardly got any time to prepare,” Gambhir said in the post-match press conference.
India will also play five ODIs and two Tests on this New Zealand tour, but Gambhir said they could plan better for those challenges.
"I don't think we did a lot of planning for T20 cricket because we had two back-to-back series against the West Indies and New Zealand. But, obviously, there was a bit of planning when it comes to two Test matches because we wanted most of our Test players, whether it's the batters or the bowlers, to try and play at least one four-day game in these conditions," said Gambhir.
Gambhir pointed out that most of the Indian players were touring New Zealand for the first time, and while the ODI team and Test team players will get some time to prep, the T20I stars didn’t.
"If this tour is difficult for anyone, then it's for the T20 side because our Test team will get time to prepare. Our one-day players will get time to prepare. But these players didn't have any time. And 70-80% of these players were coming to New Zealand for the first time.
And the weather conditions that we're playing in and the conditions we're playing in are two extreme conditions. So, I believe that after a practice session, after a 15-hour flight, if guys can deliver that kind of performance, especially against a quality side, a lot of credit needs to go to this side.
I know a lot of people will not talk about it. But this is an achievement that we should always talk about because these guys were always under pressure, and that is what is called ruthlessness. We wanted to win the next two as well, but sometimes things don't go in your favor as well," said Gambhir.
The five-ODI series begins in Auckland from November 4 onwards.
(PTI inputs)