Former opening batsman Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team by BCCI secretary Jay Shah in a post on X. Gautam Gambhir will replace Rahul Dravid at the top job. The former India batsman, who was a key member of the team that won the World T20 in 2007 and ODI World Cup 2011, recently led Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title. Rahul; Dravid left the post after India’s recent T20 World Cup triumph in America.
Gautam Gambhir has represented India in 242 matches across formats, Gambhir will begin his tenure with India’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka earlier this month.
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 men in blue shoulder the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians… pic.twitter.com/N5YyyrhXAI
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) July 9, 2024
In a statement, BCCI said it would like to take this opportunity to express its sincere thanks to Rahul Dravid for his excellent services as the head coach. Dravid’s tenure was marked by notable achievements; most notably being crowned champions of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Team India also finished as runners-up in the 2023 ICC 50-over World Cup held in India and the 2023 ICC World Test Championship held in England. Apart from the team’s dominance in bilateral series at home, Dravid’s dedication to nurturing young talent and instilling discipline and sportsmanship in the team has been exemplary.
BCCI welcomes Gautam Gambhir to his role in 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 ability and strategic acumen, Gambhir has been a key figure in Indian cricket.
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His remarkable contributions to the Indian team, which include crucial performances in the 2007 ICC World T20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, cemented his legacy as one of the greats of the sport. Gambhir also led his IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to two title wins in 2012 and 2014. In his role as a mentor with KKR in 2024, Gambhir helped the team secure its third IPL title.
In his new role as head coach of Team India, Gambhir will be responsible for overseeing the development and performance of the Indian cricket team. It will focus on developing a culture of excellence, discipline and teamwork, while nurturing young talents and preparing the team for future challenges on the global stage.
