Gautam Gambhir has replaced Rahul Dravid as the next head coach of the Indian cricket team. He will begin his tenure with India’s tour of Sri Lanka later this year.
Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid’s tenure came to an end with a T20 World Cup win on the final day in charge. After failing to win World Cups as a player and captain, Dravid was finally able to do so as a coach.
The BCCI on Tuesday confirmed Gautam Gambhir’s appointment with an official statement which read: “The BCCI welcomes Gautam Gambhir in his role with Team India. The former Indian opener brings with him a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the game. Known for his exceptional batting prowess and strategic acumen, Gambhir has been a pivotal figure in Indian cricket.”
Meanwhile, Gambhir achieved a unique achievement as the coach of the Indian team. Gautam Gambhir became the first World Cup coach to win World Cups in different formats. He won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the ODI World Cup in 2011 under the captaincy of MS DHoni.
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Gambhir played a major role in those victories. He scored 75 in the T20 World Cup final and 97 in the ODI World Cup final. Earlier this year, Gambhir guided the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title. The way the team played under him made the management take note and back him for the role for India.
Gambhir will be coaching the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, with whom he has played much of his career. The trio working together will be a sight to behold for Indian fans.
Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir has given his first reaction after becoming the head coach of the Indian cricket team. He made an official statement to the BCCI after his appointment.
“It is an absolute honour to serve my tricolour, my people, my country. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Rahul Dravid and his support team for their exemplary performance with the team. I am honoured and excited to take up the role of the head coach of Team India,” said Gautam Gambhir.
“I have always felt proud to wear the Indian jersey during my playing days and it will be no different when I take up this new role. Cricket has been my passion and I look forward to working closely with the BCCI, Director of Cricket Mr. VVS Laxman, the support staff and most importantly the players as we work towards achieving success in the upcoming tournaments,” he added.
India recently became the T20 World Cup champions for the second time under Rahul Dravid. Gambhir begins his tenure with a tour of Sri Lanka later this month. He will coach India in a few ICC events over the next two years, namely the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, 2026 T20 World Cup and the ICC ODI World Cup in 2027.
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