In a significant move for Indian cricket, Gautam Gambhir has been unveiled as the new head coach, succeeding Rahul Dravid, who completed his tenure after India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced the appointment via X (formerly Twitter), marking the beginning of Gambhir’s three-and-a-half-year term.
Gambhir’s first assignment as head coach will be a white-ball tour of Sri Lanka later this month, including three ODIs and three T20Is. Expressing his pride and commitment, Gambhir stated, “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. But my goal is the same as it has always been, to make every Indian proud.”
The BCCI’s official press release highlighted the conclusion of the tenures of the assistant coaches who worked with Dravid—Vikram Rathour (batting), Paras Mhambrey (bowling), and T Dilip (fielding). The board acknowledged their contributions and extended best wishes for their future endeavors.
At 42, Gambhir takes charge of a team basking in immense success. Under Dravid, India reached the finals of both the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup last year before becoming T20 World Champions. They are also on course to reach their third successive WTC final next year. However, Gambhir steps in during a transitional phase, with the T20I retirements of stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja. Other veterans, including R Ashwin and Mohammed Shami, may soon follow in different formats.
Jay Shah, in his announcement, emphasized Gambhir’s deep understanding of modern-day cricket’s evolution. “Having endured the grind and excelled in various roles throughout his career, Gautam is the ideal person to steer Indian cricket forward,” Shah stated.
The BCCI had set a deadline for coaching applications by May 27 and engaged in discussions with Gambhir during IPL 2024, where he served as a mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders during their title-winning run. Prior to this, Gambhir was a mentor for the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022 and 2023, guiding them to playoff appearances in both seasons. These roles marked his coaching career since retiring as a player. As a cricketer, Gambhir was instrumental in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup victories, top-scoring in the finals of both tournaments. He also led KKR to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.
During IPL 2024, Gambhir expressed his desire to coach India at an event in Abu Dhabi. “There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians,” he remarked, emphasizing the collective spirit needed to win the World Cup.
Gambhir became the leading candidate to succeed Dravid after VVS Laxman, his former teammate, declined interest in the position. Laxman, currently the director of cricket at the National Cricket Academy, is coaching India on an interim basis during their ongoing T20I series in Zimbabwe.
Dravid, who succeeded Ravi Shastri after the T20 World Cup in November 2021, initially signed a two-year contract until the 2023 ODI World Cup. He extended his tenure to cover the T20 World Cup 2024, ultimately helping India secure their first ICC trophy since 2013.
As Gambhir steps into this prestigious role, the cricketing world watches with anticipation. His leadership marks a new chapter for Indian cricket, one that promises to blend his experience, passion, and strategic acumen to achieve new heights. The men in blue, under his guidance, aim to continue their legacy of excellence and make every Indian proud.
