Andy Flower gives his verdict on the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of Team India

Gautam Gambhira former Indian batsman, was appointed as the head coach of the Indian cricket team, succeeding Rahul Dravid. The announcement was made by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) the secretary Jay Shah on Tuesday (July 9), marking a major change in the party’s leadership. Gambhir’s tenure will begin with the task of guiding India in its upcoming white-ball tour Sri Lankacomprising three ODIs and three T20Is from 27 July.

Gautam Gambhir’s coaching experience and notable achievements

Gambhir has brought a wealth of coaching experience to his new role, having coached prominent teams such as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 as well as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2023 and 2022. Under his leadership, LSG qualified for the playoffs in consecutive IPL seasons (2022 and 2023), while he played a key role in KKR’s victory in the 2024 edition, securing their third title.

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Andy Flower’s view on Gambhir as the head coach of Team India

Andy Flower, a former Zimbabwean cricketer, and Gambhir’s teammate during their time at LSG, praised Gambhir for his positive impact on Indian cricket. Flower emphasized Gambhir’s unwavering dedication and deep passion for the game, traits that have clearly translated into coaching success.

The Zimbabwean legend also expressed confidence in Gambhir that he can replicate his domestic success at the international stage, highlighting his tactical understanding and leadership qualities as a valuable asset to the Indian team. In a cool moment, Flower also playfully spoke about Gambhir’s involvement in Legends cricket leagues, showing Gambhir’s lasting influence and dedication to the future endeavors of Indian cricket.

“Well, the first thing he has to do is to give up his famous cricket for now. Gautam Gambhir is a real man, I really enjoyed working with him. He has strong opinions, he has clear strong opinions about this game. He is very decisive, he is a proud Indian, he loves Indian cricket and his position, representing Indian cricket. I think it is a good appointment and I think he will succeed,” Flower was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.

UPDATE: Abhishek Nayar will play a key role in Gautam Gambhir’s coaching team