Gautam Gambhir was announced as the new head coach of Team India on Tuesday, July 9. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah confirmed his appointment.
Former India opener has replaced Rahul Dravid as the head coach of the team. Gautam Gambhir will have a big task after Dravid’s successful tenure as coach. Under Dravid, India reached the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in 2022 before reaching the final of the ICC World Test Championship and the 50-overs World Cup in 2023.
India also won the Asia Cup last year before winning the T20 World Cup last month. The T20 World Cup victory last month ended India’s long wait for an ICC trophy. India won the T20 World Cup after a gap of 17 years and now the onus will be on Gambhir to end the team’s long wait for the ODI World Cup trophy. He will also look to guide the team to glory in the Champions Trophy and WTC next year.
“It is my immense pleasure to welcome Mr Gautam Gambhir as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team,” Shah wrote on X.
“Modern cricket has evolved rapidly and Gautam has witnessed this changing landscape up close. Having endured the strain and excelled in various roles throughout his career, I am confident that Gautam is the ideal person to take Indian cricket forward,” he added.
My aim is to make every Indian proud: Gautam Gambhir
Soon after BCCI Secretary Jay Shah confirmed Gautam Gambhir as the new head coach of the Indian team, the former cricketer took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a message for the fans. The World Cup-winning cricketer began by expressing his love for the country and said that serving the country has been his greatest privilege.
He further stated that he feels honoured to be back in the Indian team. Gambhir said that although he has returned to the national team in a different role, his aim remains the same – to make India proud.
“India is my identity and serving my country has been the greatest privilege of my life. I am honoured to be back, albeit now wearing a different hat,” Gautam Gambhir wrote.
“But my aim is the same as always – to make every Indian proud. The men in blue share the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians and I will do everything in my power to make those dreams come true,” he added.
India is my identity and serving my country has been the greatest privilege of my life. I am honoured to be back, albeit with a different hat. But my aim is the same as always: to make every Indian proud. The men in blue carry on their shoulders the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians… image.twitter.com/N5YyyrhXAI
– Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) July 9, 2024
Gambhir has no prior coaching experience but has been a mentor in the IPL. In 2022 and 2023, he mentored the Lucknow Super Giants and helped them qualify for the playoffs. Earlier this year, he helped the Kolkata Knight Riders clinch the IPL trophy after a gap of 10 years.
