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Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team, set to assume his role ahead of the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. The national team is scheduled to participate in a three-match T20I and ODI series from July 26 to August 7. Reports indicate that Suryakumar Yadav is likely to be named captain for the series, a decision in which Gambhir is believed to have played a significant role, despite earlier speculation favoring Hardik Pandya for the position.
In preparation for the Test series against Bangladesh, Gambhir has advised senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah to participate in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, affording them ample rest beforehand.
Meanwhile, former Indian captain Kapil Dev has chosen not to comment directly on Gambhir’s appointment as head coach but has extended his best wishes to the Indian players who will form the core group under Gambhir’s leadership.
“If Gautam Gambhir is taking up that post (of head coach of the Indian cricket team), I wish good luck to him and the team. I hope they do better than what we have done previously. I want to wish the Indian players all the best,” Kapil told PTI on the sidelines of the 2nd edition of the Trinity Golf Champions League in New Delhi.
Despite lacking coaching experience akin to Ravi Shastri or Rahul Dravid, Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL has been pivotal in convincing the BCCI to entrust him with this challenging role. His leadership saw KKR clinch two IPL titles under his captaincy, and he further contributed to their third title as a mentor.
Gambhir’s approach of encouraging an attacking style of play and extracting the best from his players was particularly notable. His extensive pedigree in the game undoubtedly promises to bring significant value to the Indian team.
Gautam Gambhir’s Challenges Going Forward: Continuing India’s World Cup Domination
Gautam Gambhir faces significant challenges as he steps into the role of India’s head coach, tasked with maintaining team unity and building on the legacy left by Rahul Dravid, who concluded his tenure with an ICC title that ended India’s drought in major ICC tournaments. Under Gambhir’s leadership, India’s upcoming schedule includes key events such as the Champions Trophy 2025, the WTC 2023-2025 final, the T20 World Cup 2026, and the ODI World Cup 2027.
One of Gambhir’s immediate challenges will be navigating the five-Test series in Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year. Equally significant will be his relationship with Virat Kohli in both ODI and Test cricket. Gambhir has a history of playing alongside Kohli and Rohit Sharma during the early stages of their careers, before retiring from international cricket in 2016.
The fallout between Gambhir and Kohli during IPL 2023 drew considerable attention, making their dynamic on and off the field a subject of keen interest during Gambhir’s tenure as coach. Balancing these relationships while steering India through a demanding international calendar will be a critical aspect of Gambhir’s role in the coming years.
