India head coach Gautam Gambhir has urged his team to remain focused on the task in front of them as the side prepares for the second Test against Sri Lanka in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle. India head into the series with a 1–0 lead in the two-match series after securing victory in the opening Test. A second win for India will provide an important boost to their campaign in the WTC standings.

“The entire focus is about looking forward to the next five days and, more importantly, looking at every session and every hour as well. You don't control what's going to happen over the next five days. You can only control what you can control in that first session and that one particular hour,” Gambhir said at the press conference.

“And that is how we want to see these things as well. It's not about where we're going to be at the end of the World Test Championship cycle. It's about if we can continue to try and win test matches, everything else will take care of itself.

“So rather than thinking too much ahead, let's try and stay in the present. And that is what the beauty of sport is. The more you stay in the present, the more you have the opportunity to get the results in your favour."

Gambhir also about wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav who was not the first-choice option for captain Shubman Gill for much of the opening match, as Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar were given greater responsibility with the ball. 

“We know how good a bowler Kuldeep is. More importantly, sometimes it is up to the captain as well," Gambhir said.

"He feels that if his two other spinners can get him wickets, looking at the conditions, what pace he wants a certain spinner to bowl. It is not about guys under-bowling. It is about getting the result. For me, I think that is more important,” Gambhir added.