Gautam Gambhir Appointed Head Coach of Indian Cricket Team

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah officially announced that Gautam Gambhir is the new head coach of the Indian cricket team, taking over from Rahul Dravid. Dravid ended his tenure after the T20 World Cup final last month, having led the team since 2021. Gambhir, a former Indian batsman, now takes on the responsibility to continue Dravid’s successful coaching legacy, especially in T20 cricket, where India recently won the T20 World Cup title.

In the latter part of the Indian Premier League 2024 season, there was increasing speculation about Gautam Gambhir becoming the head coach. Although there was no official approach at the time, informal discussions progressed between the board and Gambhir, according to sources. Despite not having experience as a coach at the highest level, Gambhir’s mentoring roles in the IPL apparently convinced top BCCI officials that he is the right candidate to lead the team after Rahul Dravid.

From IPL Mentor to Indian Team Head Coach

Gambhir’s first mentoring role began in 2022 with the Lucknow IPL franchise. During his two-year tenure, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) reached the playoffs. Returning to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the first time since his retirement as a player in 2017, the two-time IPL-winning captain took on the role of franchise mentor. Gambhir had an immediate impact, guiding KKR to their third IPL title on May 26. Players, support staff, and co-owner Shah Rukh Khan highlighted Gambhir’s contributions in providing clarity of roles and aligning the Knight Riders towards a shared objective.

It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr @GautamGambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. 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… pic.twitter.com/bvXyP47kqJ

— Jay Shah (@JayShah) July 9, 2024

“It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr @GautamGambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. 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. His clear vision for #TeamIndia, coupled with his vast experience, positions him perfectly to take on this exciting and most sought-after coaching role. The @BCCI fully supports him as he embarks on this new journey,” Jay Shah tweeted.

The Indian team is currently playing in a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe under the guidance of VVS Laxman. According to reports, Gambhir will assume the coaching responsibilities starting from the Sri Lanka series, which comprises three T20Is and three ODIs.

Related post: Rohit Sharma Pays Emotional Tribute to Coach Rahul Dravid

 

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