Visakhapatnam
Gautam Gambhir has been named as India’s next head coach, taking over from Rahul Dravid who stepped down after leading India to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. The announcement was made by BCCI secretary Jay Shah via X (formerly Twitter).
“India is my identity and serving my country has been the greatest privilege of my life,” Gambhir stated shortly after the announcement. “I’m honored to be back, albeit in a different role. My goal remains the same – to make every Indian proud. The Indian cricket team carries the dreams of 1.4 billion people, and I will do everything in my power to turn these dreams into reality.”
Gambhir’s first task as head coach will be a white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is later this month. The BCCI is yet to confirm whether the assistant coaches who worked under Dravid will continue in their positions.
At the age of 42, Gambhir takes charge of a highly successful team that has been performing exceptionally well. Despite the retirements of key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja in the T20 format, India is aiming for continued success in all formats under Gambhir’s leadership.
The BCCI had previously announced that the new head coach would serve a three and a half year term until December 2027, overseeing the team across all formats. Gambhir, who had been in discussions with the board during IPL 2024 while mentoring Kolkata Knight Riders, brings a wealth of experience to the role.
Gambhir, who played a pivotal role in India’s victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup, is eager to guide India to further success. His appointment comes after VVS Laxman declined the coaching role, with Rahul Dravid stepping down after leading India to their first ICC trophy in nearly a decade.
Overall, Gambhir’s passion for coaching and dedication to the Indian cricket team make him a natural fit for the role of head coach.
