(Source X)
Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the new head coach of Team India, a decision confirmed by BCCI secretary Jay Shah earlier today. Taking over from Rahul Dravid, Gambhir steps into a role marked by high expectations following Dravid’s successful tenure. Under Dravid’s guidance, India reached significant milestones including the T20 World Cup semifinals in 2022 and the finals of both the ICC World Test Championship and the 50-over World Cup in 2023.
India’s recent triumphs under Dravid also include victories in the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup, marking a significant breakthrough in ICC tournaments after 17 years. Now, Gambhir shoulders the responsibility of leading India to further successes, with a keen focus on securing the elusive ODI World Cup title. Additionally, he will be aiming to guide the team to glory in upcoming tournaments like the Champions Trophy and the World Test Championship next year.
“It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr Gautam Gambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team,” Shah wrote on X.
“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,” he added.
My goal is to make every Indian proud: Gautam Gambhir
Following BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s official announcement of Gautam Gambhir as the Indian team’s new head coach, the former cricketer promptly shared a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter) addressed to the fans. The World Cup-winning player began by expressing his deep affection for the country, emphasizing that serving India has been the greatest honor of his life.
In his message, Gambhir conveyed his sincere gratitude for the opportunity to return to the Indian team, albeit in a different capacity. He reaffirmed that his fundamental objective remains unchanged: to continue contributing towards India’s pride and success on the international stage.
“India is my identity and serving my country has been the greatest privilege of my life. I’m honoured to be back, albeit wearing a different hat,” wrote Gautam Gambhir.
“But my goal is the same as it has always been, to make every Indian proud. The men in blue shoulder the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians and I will do everything in my power to make these dreams come true! 🇮🇳,” he added.
While Gautam Gambhir lacks formal coaching experience, he has made a significant impact as a mentor in the IPL. He took on the role with the Lucknow Super Giants in 2022 and 2023, guiding them to playoff qualifications during both seasons. His mentoring prowess was further highlighted earlier this year when he played a crucial role in steering the Kolkata Knight Riders to their first IPL trophy in a decade.
