He had also hosted the entire Indian team for dinner at his home when they landed for the upcoming clash. Speaking ahead of the fixture, Gambhir reflected on what returning home means to him, especially in a profession defined by pressure and scrutiny.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou\u2019re around your family, so for me, home has always been special. Obviously, it\u2019s tough because you go through a lot of lonely nights as well; you go through a lot of nights when things don\u2019t go your way. It\u2019s sometimes a very challenging profession as well. So when you\u2019ve got your trusted support staff, they normally become as close as your family because you can share a lot of emotions with them,\u201d Gambhir said in a bcci.tv video.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cInfact when you\u2019re in this profession, you share a lot more emotions with them as compared to what you share with your family. They know the ups and downs of this profession. They know how it feels when things don\u2019t go your way. Support staff is not just support staff; it\u2019s actually more than a family,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For Gambhir, the emotional demands of elite sport make the dressing room bond indispensable. While the intensity of competition is unavoidable, he stressed the importance of maintaining balance within the squad environment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOnce the game gets started, it\u2019s always tense; it\u2019s always full of pressure. You want to train as hard as you can. But in the dressing room and during the practice session, whenever you get an opportunity, you try and be as relaxed as you can; you can joke around. I think a lot depends on the captain as well. A lot depends on the captain and how he wants the atmosphere.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThere have to be moments when guys can be themselves, and there has to be a funny moment somewhere, be it in the practice sessions or in the dressing room. Everyone has a funny side to it. So make sure we try and get that out of every individual, and that is something which will keep the atmosphere light as well. But once the game is over, during the practice sessions, you have to try and have a funny side, and more importantly, it keeps things very relaxed,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOnce the game gets started, it\u2019s always tense; it\u2019s always full of pressure. You want to train as hard as you can. But in the dressing room and during the practice session, whenever you get an opportunity, you try and be as relaxed as you can; you can joke around. I think a lot depends on the captain as well. A lot depends on the captain and how he wants the atmosphere.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIrrespective of how the day has panned out, you go back home, meet your loved ones, and they\u2019re going to receive you, and they\u2019re going to greet you the same way as they normally do. That\u2019s why I say home is love, and home is where you get peace,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\r\n\r\n