Gambhir’s first task in charge will be a white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is, later this month. The BCCI is yet to confirm whether the assistant coaches who worked with Dravid – Vikram Rathour (batting), Paras Mhambrey (bowling) and T Dilip (fielding) – will continue in their roles.
The 42-year-old Gambhir takes over the team riding a wave of great success. They reached the finals of the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup last year before becoming T20 World Champions, and are on course to reach their third consecutive WTC final next year. The club, however, is in the midst of a transition away from one of its glory days. He takes over the T20I side following the withdrawal of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja from that format, and these three stars and a number of others in their mid-30s, including R Ashwin and Mohammed Shami, could be close. the end of their work and in other forms.
It is a great pleasure to welcome mr @GautamGambhir as the new coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Modern day cricket has evolved rapidly, and Gautam has seen this changing landscape up close. He endured the grind and excelled in various roles throughout… pic.twitter.com/bvXyP47kqJ
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) July 9, 2024
The BCCI had earlier said that the new coach will be appointed from July for three-and-a-half years till December 2027 and will manage the team in all three terms.
While the BCCI advertised for candidates for the job and set the deadline for applications from May 27, the board held talks with Gambhir during IPL 2024, where he was the mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders during their run for the title.
Before joining KKR in November 2023, Gambhir had been a consultant to Lucknow Super Giants during IPL 2022 and 2023, helping them qualify for the playoffs in both seasons. These are the only coaching roles he has had since his retirement. During his tenure in India, Gambhir played a key role in winning the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup, leading India to the finals in both tournaments. He also captained KKR to two IPL titles, in 2012 and 2014.
“Look, I would be happy to coach the Indian team,” said Gambhir when asked by a young person if he would help India win the World Cup. “There is no greater honor. There is no greater honor than coaching your national team. You represent 140 Indians. And the whole world. And if you represent India, how can it be bigger than that?
“How can I help India win the World Cup – I think it’s not me who will help India win the World Cup, it’s 140 crore Indians who will help India win the World Cup. If everyone starts praying for us, then we start playing and representing them, India will win the World Cup The most important thing is not to be afraid and yes, I would like to coach India.
Gambhir became the frontrunner to succeed Dravid especially after his former India teammate VVS Laxman told the BCCI that he was not interested in the job. Laxman is currently the director of cricket at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, he is currently coaching India for the five T20Is in Zimbabwe.
Dravid took over from Ravi Shastri after the T20 World Cup in November 2021 for two years until the 2023 ODI World Cup. He then agreed to the BCCI’s request to extend his tenure until the end of the 2024 T20 World Cup, and helped India lift its first ICC trophy since 2013.
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