The Indian cricket team had a historic moment a few days ago when Rohit Sharma and his men ended their ICC trophy drought and went on to win the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. It was the first ICC title for the Men in Blue in 11 years and a World Cup title in 13 years. That win was certainly the end of an era because Rohit, along with Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, announced their T20I retirements. And it was also the end of Rahul Dravid as head coach.
Dravid, who took over the responsibility of head coach in 2021 after Ravi Shastri stepped down, had a wonderful stint working as the head coach for the Men in Blue. Under his coaching, India played three ICC finals and a semi-final. Hence, it can be concluded that he is one of those coaches for India who won an ICC event.
Rahul Dravid who has already departed from the Head Coach position, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has found a new face- Gautam Gambhir to fulfill the Job. Now Champions Trophy 2025 and World Test Championship 2025 finals are lined up in the next 12 months and the new Head Coach Gambhir would hand down with the responsibility of these tournaments
Latest News:
The latest news about the Indian cricket team head coach is that Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the new head coach. He replaces Rahul Dravid, whose tenure ended after the T20 World Cup 2024. Gambhir, a former Indian cricketer and successful IPL coach, will take charge starting with the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.
Gambhir recently posted an emotional farewell video for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he served as a mentor. Additionally, there are reports that the BCCI has rejected his request to appoint Morne Morkel as the bowling coach.
Before shifting our focus to the newly appointed Indian Head Coach, let us first take a look at Rahul Dravid’s brief career as an Indian Head Coach.
Rahul Dravid’s tenure as head coach ended with the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
Rahul Dravid replaced Ravi Shastri as head coach in 2021 and was appointed until the ODI World Cup 2023 in India. The hosts reached the final but, unfortunately, lost against Australia. But the BCCI management, along with captain Rohit Sharma, convinced Dravid for another six-month extension until the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, and the final against South Africa was officially his last game as India’s head coach. That’s why the BCCI opened applications for a new head coach a month ago and received more than 3000 applications for the position of India Head Coach (Men). Out of thousands of applications, only one name emerged on top of that pile which is Gautam Gambhir.
But there was no official statement by the board until now. The secretary of the BCCI Jay Shah took the news on his X (formerly known as Twitter) handle and announced that Gautam Gambhir will be the new face of the Indian Head coach.
Captioned,” It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr @GautamGambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team…”
Many thanks for your extremely kind words and constant support @JayShah bhai. Elated to be a part of this journey! The entire team together will strive for excellence and newer heights. https://t.co/BgAbTwN59u
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) July 9, 2024
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Gautam Gambhir as Head Coach – A modern Era of Leadership
Previously the BCCI secretary, Jay Shah, confirmed this in an interview with ESPN Cricinfo. He said, “Both coach and selector appointments will be made shortly. CAC has interviewed and shortlisted two names, and after reaching Mumbai, whatever they have decided, we will go by that. VVS Laxman is going to Zimbabwe, but a new coach will join from the Sri Lanka series.”
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Putting an end to the reports and theories, BCCI official announcement and Jay Shah tweet, it is confirmed that Gautam Gambhir will be the coach ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 and World Test Championship 2025 finals.
After the reports of Gambhir being appointed as the Head Coach flourished online, fans and his supporters started showering him with congratulations and love. The former Indian opener brings with him a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the game. Known for his exceptional batting prowess and strategic acumen, Gambhir has been a pivotal figure in Indian cricket.
Gambhir also revealed that he is willing to coach Team India at the highest level. In a recent interview with ANI, BCCI president Roger Binny hinted at Gambhir’s appointment. He said, “Gautam Gambhir has got a lot of experience, and if he takes the job, it’s definitely going to be a good thing for Indian cricket. He is experienced; that’s what India needs. India needs a coach who played the game, and he has played in all three formats of the game.”
Under Gambhir’s mentorship, Kolkata Knight Riders won the IPL 2024. He doesn’t have much coaching experience but has mentored a couple of IPL franchises, where he has shown impressive mentorship leading the teams to playoffs and finals. He was with Lucknow Super Giants in 2023 and 2023, and LSG made the playoffs in two seasons. Now, KKR has won the title with him. His street-smart brain and ability to back the players make him a smart candidate.
In his new role, Gambhir would be responsible for overseeing the overall development and performance of the Men In Blue team. His focus will be on developing a culture of excellence, discipline, and teamwork, while also nurturing young talent and preparing the team for future challenges on the global stage.
When was the announcement for the new head coach of the Indian cricket team 2024??
On Tuesday, 9th July BCCI secretary Jay Shah officially posted on his ‘X’ Twitter handle confirming Gautam Gambhir as the new Head Coach of India.
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Gambhir will take on the charge for Indian Head Coach in the India tour of Sri Lanka, 2024. This bilateral series will mark the official beginning of his career as Head coach. This tour will host Sri India for three ODIs and three T20Is. The tour will start on July 27 and will end on August 07, 2024 . Currently, Laxman is with the team, and he is the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
Now that former Indian captain Gambhir has become the new head coach, it will be interesting to see how he will operate. Jay Shah has shown immense believe in his leadership and has said-
“Gambhir has been a fierce competitor and a brilliant strategist. We believe he will bring the same tenacity and leadership to his role as Head Coach. His transition to the role of Head Coach is a natural progression, and I believe he will bring out the best in our players.”
“I am confident that he will inspire and lead the team to new heights. His vision for the future of Indian cricket aligns perfectly with our goals, and we are excited about the journey ahead. Congratulations to him and best of luck for this new journey.”
with this all being said, Gambhir is ready to hold on the head coach position and is currently in talks with the BCCI for its supporting staff. The Sri-Lanka tour of India will be an important event for Gambhir where he would be trying his hard and level best to start the Mentorship on a winning note.
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