Gambhir era begins in Indian cricket; BCCI expects tenacity from new coach
New Delhi, July 9
World Cup-winning former opener Gautam Gambhir was today named the head coach of the Indian cricket team by the BCCI, which hoped that he would bring “tenacity and leadership” to the position that was held with “remarkable success” by Rahul Dravid until recently.
The 42-year-old left-hander, who played a key role in India’s 2011 ODI World Cup triumph, was the frontrunner to replace Dravid whose tenure ended with the country’s triumph in the T20 World Cup in Barbados last month.
Rohit’s thank you note to Dravid
New DELhi: India’s T20 World Cup-winning skipper Rohit Sharma has penned an emotional farewell note to the team’s former head coach Rahul Dravid, expressing “gratitude” for his man-management skills and for leaving his baggage of stardom outside the dressing room.
Dravid, following a nearly three-year-long stint as head coach, stepped down at the end of India’s T20 World Cup triumph last month. “My wife (Ritika Sajdeh) refers to you as my work wife and I am lucky to get to call you that too,” the skipper wrote about his first international captain on his Instagram page.
Rohit’s tribute was also an indicator of how the player-coach equation works in the Indian dressing room. “I have been trying to find the right words to properly express my feelings on this but I’m not sure I ever will,” he wrote. “You are an absolute stalwart of this game but you left all of your accolades and achievements at the door and walked in as our coach.” PTI
I have always taken pride while donning the Indian jersey during my playing days and it is going to be no different when I take up this new role.
Gautam Gambhir
Gambhir’s first assignment as India coach will be the tour of Sri Lanka for three T20Is and as many ODIs starting July 27.
“His appointment as head coach marks a new chapter for Indian cricket,” said BCCI president Roger Binny. “His experience, dedication, and vision for the game make him the ideal candidate to guide our team forward. We are confident that under his leadership, Team India will continue to excel and make the nation proud,” he added.
The Board stated that the Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe and Sulakshana Naik today unanimously recommended Gambhir.
Greatest privilege
As a player, Gambhir led Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. He then proved his coaching credentials as the mentor of the KKR team that won the IPL title in 2024.
Gambhir said it would be an “absolute honour to serve the tricolour” and he would do “everything in his power” to deliver good results for the team.
“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 and I will do everything in my power to make these dreams come true!” said Gambhir in a post.
Gambhir also congratulated Dravid for his stellar three-year tenure. “It is an absolute honour to serve my tricolour, my people, my country. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Rahul Dravid and his team of support staff for their exemplary run with the team. I am honoured and excited to take on the role of Head Coach for Team India,” he said.
Gambhir said he was looking forward to working with some of the leading luminaries of cricket, including National Cricket Academy chief VVS Laxman, to take Indian cricket forward. — Agencies
