(Source X)
The formalities are complete, and the paperwork signed—the Gautam Gambhir era as head coach of Indian cricket is about to begin. Taking the reins from next week, the former India captain will lead the team in their upcoming series against Sri Lanka, marking his first stint as head coach.
Gambhir, who recently succeeded Rahul Dravid post the T20 World Cup 2024, had set conditions for joining the BCCI. Notably, he insisted on personally selecting his support staff and maintaining full autonomy over team decisions, sans external interference.
Despite initial setbacks in finalizing his coaching team, Gambhir is poised to start his tenure with the appointment of Abhishek Nayar as assistant coach, though his other nominations were reportedly turned down by the BCCI. The board has also proposed Troy Cooley as a temporary bowling coach for the Sri Lanka tour.
Even prior to officially stepping in, Gambhir made significant waves with team selections, notably appointing Suryakumar Yadav as T20I captain over Hardik Pandya, while retaining veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the ODIs, crucial for India’s preparations for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan.
In a surprise move, Shubman Gill was named vice-captain across both T20Is and ODIs, signaling BCCI’s strategic foresight in grooming future leadership within the squad.
India to leave for Sri Lanka on 22nd July
The Indian National Cricket Team is scheduled to depart for Sri Lanka on July 22nd. Prior to their departure, Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach, will address the media in his first press conference on Monday. This interaction marks Gambhir’s initial public appearance since taking over the reins of Team India.
The tour of Sri Lanka kicks off with a three-match T20I series commencing on July 27th, followed by ODIs starting from August 2nd in Colombo. Gambhir, eager to make a strong start in his new role, will be looking forward to overseeing the team’s performance in these upcoming matches.
