Gautam Gambhir Named Head Coach of Indian Cricket Team, Succeeding Rahul Dravid
Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team, confirmed BCCI secretary Jay Shah on social media on Wednesday. The former Indian cricketer will take over from Rahul Dravid, whose tenure concluded following the T20 World Cup 2024.
Announcing the decision, Jay Shah posted on X, “It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr @GautamGambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Modern-day cricket has evolved rapidly, and Gautam has witnessed this changing landscape up close. Having endured the grind and excelled in various roles throughout his career, I am confident that Gautam is the ideal person to steer Indian Cricket forward. His clear vision for #TeamIndia, coupled with his vast experience, positions him perfectly to take on this exciting and most sought-after coaching role. The @BCCI fully supports him as he embarks on this new journey.
It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr @GautamGambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Modern-day cricket has evolved rapidly, and Gautam has witnessed this changing landscape up close. Having endured the grind and excelled in various roles throughout his… pic.twitter.com/bvXyP47kqJ
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) July 9, 2024
Earlier, Jay Shah also shared a message for Rahul Dravid, who concluded his tenure as the head coach of the Indian cricket team by leading them to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 during his final assignment.
I express my sincere thanks and gratitude to Mr Rahul Dravid whose highly successful tenure as the Head Coach draws to a close. Under his guidance, #TeamIndia emerged as a dominant force across formats, including being crowned ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions! 🇮🇳
His strategic… pic.twitter.com/PdfCB0elmb
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) July 9, 2024
The 42-year-old Gautam Gambhir takes charge of a highly successful team. They reached the finals of both the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup last year before winning the T20 World Cup, and they are on track to reach their third consecutive WTC final next year. However, the team is currently transitioning from one of its most illustrious eras. Gambhir assumes leadership of the T20I side following the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja from that format. Additionally, several other stars in their mid-to-late 30s, including R Ashwin and Mohammed Shami, might be nearing the end of their careers in other formats as well.
Gambhir emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Dravid, particularly after his former India teammate VVS Laxman informed the BCCI that he was not interested in the position. Laxman, currently the director of cricket at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, is serving as the interim coach for India’s ongoing five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe.
Dravid succeeded Ravi Shastri following the T20 World Cup in November 2021, initially signing on for two years until the 2023 ODI World Cup. He then agreed to the BCCI’s request to extend his tenure until the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024, ultimately guiding India to their first ICC trophy since 2013.
