Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team, replacing Rahul Dravid. Gambhir made headlines after leading Kolkata Knight Riders to victory in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 as their mentor.
His success in IPL generated widespread support for him to become the next head coach of the Indian cricket team after Rahul Dravid's tenure ended with T20 World Cup 2024. Responding to the popular demand, BCCI appointed Gautam Gambhir as team India's new head coach.
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When will team India's new coach Gautam Gambhir begin his first assignment?
Gautam Gambhir's first assignment as team India's head coach will be India vs Sri Lanka white-ball series, featuring three IND vs SL ODIs and three IND vs SL T20I matches. IND vs SL series is scheduled to start from July 27 onwards. Senior players Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli are expected to miss playing IND vs SL series. This will give Gautam Gambhir the golden chance to make some unconventional choices, experiment and play his strengths.
Gautam Gambhir will serve as the team India's head coach until 2027. During his tenure, the veteran will aim for five ICC trophies: Champions Trophy in 2025, WTC Final in 2025, T20 World Cup in 2026, ODI World Cup in 2027, and WTC Final in 2027.
Gautam Gambhir retired from international cricket on 4 December 2018. He played his last Test for India in 2016 against England in Rajkot. In Tests, Gambhir scored 4,154 runs in 58 matches at an average of 41.95, including nine centuries.
In ODIs, the Southpaw ended up with 5,238 runs, including 11 centuries. Gambhir's 97-run innings in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka at Wankhede cricket stadium in Mumbai was instrumental in MS Dhoni-led India winning the World Cup title for the second time. In T20Is, Gambhir scored 932 runs in 37 matches, including seven fifties.