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Brett Lee recently weighed in on the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as the new head coach of Team India, following the announcement by the BCCI last week. Gambhir takes over from Rahul Dravid, who led the team since 2021 until recently. Under Dravid’s guidance, India achieved significant success across different formats, including winning the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and reaching the finals of both the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup last year.
Dravid capped off his tenure on a high note, steering India to their second T20 World Cup title just last month. In a thrilling final against South Africa, India emerged victorious by 7 runs, marking their first ICC trophy in 11 years. Notably, they also achieved the distinction of being the first team to win the T20 World Cup without dropping a single match.
Brett Lee on Gautam Gambhir’s appointment:
After Rahul Dravid’s impactful tenure, Gautam Gambhir faces a significant challenge in his maiden role as a head coach. While the future remains uncertain, Brett Lee expressed confidence in Gambhir’s ability to make a difference, drawing from their time together in the IPL.
Lee, the renowned Australian fast bowler who played under Gambhir’s captaincy at Kolkata Knight Riders, pointed to Gambhir’s leadership stint as exemplary. According to Lee, Gambhir’s captaincy with KKR stands as a testament to his leadership prowess and ability to deliver under pressure.
“He’s (Gautam Gambhir) done a terrific job every time he’s had an opportunity. The Indian Premier League title with KKR is the best example. He’s always been there, always at the top of his game,” Brett Lee told the Times of India.
Expanding on his thoughts, Brett Lee emphasized that Gambhir consistently fosters unity among players. Lee added that the new head coach’s aggressive and winning mindset would greatly benefit the Indian team. He concluded by extending his congratulations to Dravid for successfully concluding his coaching tenure.
“He finds a way to unite his players and graft his team together. He builds a solid structure. He has been a terrific player, and his aggression and winning attitude will help India. He has shone internationally as a player. India is in safe hands with Gautam Gambhir as coach. Congratulations to Rahul for finishing on a high,” said Brett Lee.
Meanwhile, Gambhir is set to commence his tenure as India’s head coach later this month as the team prepares for a series against Sri Lanka comprising three T20Is and as many ODIs.
