Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as India’s new head coach following Rahul Dravid, who concluded his tenure after leading India to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. The announcement was made by BCCI secretary Jay Shah
Gautam Gambhir is set to become India’s next head coach, succeeding Rahul Dravid following India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. The announcement was made by BCCI secretary Jay Shah on a platform now known as X.
Gambhir’s first task as head coach will be overseeing India’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is later this month.
Expressing his sentiments on X, Gambhir said, “India defines who I am, and representing my country has been the greatest honor of my life. I am privileged to return, albeit in a different role. My objective remains unchanged: to make every Indian proud. The Indian cricket team carries the aspirations of 1.4 billion people, and I am committed to realizing these dreams.”
In its official statement confirming Gambhir’s appointment, the BCCI noted that the tenures of assistant coaches Vikram Rathour (batting), Paras Mhambrey (bowling), and T Dilip (fielding), who served under Dravid, have concluded. The release acknowledged their contributions and extended best wishes for their future endeavors.
Taking charge amidst a period of remarkable success for the team, the 42-year-old Gambhir inherits a squad that reached the finals of the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup last year, subsequently claiming the T20 World Cup title. The team is currently on track to qualify for their third consecutive WTC final next year. However, India is also navigating a transition phase following retirements in the T20I format by Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja. Other senior players, such as R Ashwin and Mohammed Shami, may also be nearing the conclusion of their careers in other formats.
The BCCI previously announced that the new head coach would begin their tenure from July, serving for a period of three and a half years until December 2027. This appointment includes overseeing the team across all formats.
Despite advertising the role and setting a May 27 deadline for applications, the BCCI engaged in discussions with Gambhir during IPL 2024, where he served as the mentor for Kolkata Knight Riders during their successful campaign for the title.
Prior to joining Kolkata Knight Riders in November 2023, Gambhir held the mentoring role at Lucknow Super Giants during IPL 2022 and 2023, contributing to their playoff qualifications both seasons. These positions mark his sole coaching roles since retiring from professional play. During his international career, Gambhir made significant contributions to India’s victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup, playing pivotal roles in both final matches. He also led Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL championships in 2012 and 2014.
