India, March 9 -- The signature scowl was nowhere in evidence, the trademark snarl put away. For now. Gautam Gambhir was all smiles at the post-match press conference, laughing at himself and with the others, revelling in Suryakumar Yadav's company, relishing casting an occasional eye on the T20 World Cup, standing proudly to the captain's left on the head table.

Were Gambhir that sort, he would view Sunday's events at the Narendra Modi Stadium as vindication of his methodology. As the ultimate proof that, while his tactics might not have been easily understandable, they were well thought out and based on sound logic. As evidence, while he might still be a work in progress as a Test coach, he is a phenomenal white-ball boss who has now p...