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Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opening batsman, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, succeeding Rahul Dravid. This announcement came on Tuesday, following Gambhir’s departure from politics earlier this year.
Starting with the upcoming Sri Lanka tour commencing on July 27th, Gambhir will assume his responsibilities. He becomes the fifth head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team who has won the ODI World Cup. Unlike his predecessors, Gambhir is keen on steering India towards victory in ICC tournaments. His tenure spans 3.5 years, during which India is slated to participate in five ICC tournaments.
World Cup winners who became head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team
Sandeep Patil, a pivotal member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team under Kapil Dev’s leadership, took on the role of India’s head coach for the England tour from May to July 1996. Unfortunately, the stint proved disappointing as India faced defeats in both Test and ODI series, leading to Patil’s dismissal at its conclusion.
Madan Lal, also part of the victorious 1983 squad, assumed the coaching mantle in 1996. During his tenure, India achieved notable victories over Australia and South Africa across various formats at home. However, a significant setback occurred in March 1997 when India suffered a humiliating loss to the West Indies in a Barbados Test captained by Sachin Tendulkar.
Kapil Dev, the legendary all-rounder and captain of the 1983 World Cup team, took over as India’s head coach in 1999. His tenure was marked by challenging defeats against Australia and South Africa in Test series. However, it was overshadowed by the tumultuous end, as match-fixing allegations rocked the cricket world, leading to his resignation under immense pressure.
Ravi Shastri, another integral member of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad, served as Team India’s director from 2014 to 2016 and subsequently as head coach from 2017 to 2021. His coaching stint saw India’s impressive journey to the final of the 2021 World Test Championship, a semi-final appearance in the 2019 ODI World Cup, and historic back-to-back Test series victories in Australia.
Gautam Gambhir, renowned for his pivotal roles in India’s victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup, including his crucial contributions in both finals under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, assumed the mantle of head coach on July 9, 2024. His tenure is set until December 2027, aiming to steer India towards further successes on the global stage.
