Gautam Gambhir expressed immense pride following his appointment as the head coach of India's national cricket team by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday. The former opener succeeds Rahul Dravid, who concluded his tenure after leading the team to victory in the T20 World Cup in Barbados last month.
"I am thrilled to welcome Mr. Gautam Gambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team," stated Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary. Gambhir, 42, is honored to lead his country, stating, "It is a great privilege to serve my nation." He also congratulated Dravid and his support staff for their outstanding achievements with the team.
During his 13-year international career, Gambhir accumulated over 10,000 runs and is one of only four cricketers, including Don Bradman, Jacques Kallis, and Mohammad Yousuf, to score centuries in five consecutive Test matches. Shah noted Gambhir's close observation of the evolving cricket landscape and his suitability for the coaching role due to his extensive experience and clear vision for the team.
Post-retirement, Gambhir ventured into commentary and politics, serving as a lawmaker for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before resigning in March to coach Kolkata Knight Riders, leading them to an IPL victory. He now faces heightened expectations after India's recent T20 World Cup win, their fourth overall.
Gambhir's first coaching assignment will be India's tour of Sri Lanka in late July. He remains committed to his country, stating, "I have always taken pride in representing India and that won't change in this new role." He looks forward to collaborating with the BCCI, the support staff, and the players to achieve success in upcoming tournaments.
India is also in need of a new T20 captain following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Shah extended his gratitude to Dravid for his significant contributions, highlighting the team's dominance under his leadership and the culture of excellence he fostered.
