(AFP Photo)
On Tuesday (July 9), BCCI Secretary Jay Shah officially announced Gautam Gambhir as the new head coach of Team India, succeeding Rahul Dravid in the role.
Following Dravid’s tenure which concluded after the T20 World Cup final last month, Gambhir now assumes responsibility to build upon the team’s recent successes, particularly in T20 cricket where India secured the world championship title.
Gambhir had been a leading contender for the position, having undergone interviews alongside former India cricketer WV Raman last month. While both candidates impressed the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), Gambhir emerged as the preferred choice from the outset.
Shah took to social media, specifically X (formerly Twitter), to confirm Gambhir’s appointment, expressing confidence that the former India batsman is well-suited to lead Indian cricket into its next phase.
“It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr @GautamGambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team,” wrote Shah.
“Modern-day cricket has evolved rapidly, and Gautam has witnessed this changing landscape up close. Having endured the grind and excelled in various roles throughout his career, I am confident that Gautam is the ideal person to steer Indian Cricket forward.
“His clear vision for #TeamIndia, coupled with his vast experience, positions him perfectly to take on this exciting and most sought-after coaching role. The @BCCI fully supports him as he embarks on this new journey,” he added.
Despite Gautam Gambhir’s lack of experience coaching a state or national team, he has garnered widespread acclaim for his coaching prowess in the IPL. Over the past three seasons, Gambhir showcased his mentoring abilities, notably guiding the Lucknow Super Giants to playoff berths in both 2022 and 2023.
Interestingly, Lucknow’s failure to reach the playoffs this season coincided with Gambhir’s absence from their dugout. Moving into IPL 2024, Gambhir took up coaching duties with the Kolkata Knight Riders, leading them to their first tournament victory since 2014.
Gambhir’s upcoming role as India’s head coach commences later this month with the team’s tour of Sri Lanka, marking a significant step in his coaching career.
