Gautam Gambhir appointed Indian Cricket Team Head Coach, will replace Rahul Dravid

Digital Desk: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Tuesday that former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the new head coach. He takes over from Rahul Dravid, who completed a successful three-year tenure as the head coach of the Indian men's team with India's victory in the T20 World Cup in June.

Rahul Dravid assumed leadership of the Indian cricket team from Ravi Shastri in 2021, with his tenure originally set to conclude after the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. However, his term was extended to include the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the US and West Indies.

The announcement was made by BCCI secretary Jay Shah on social media platform X. "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," Jay Shah stated.

Gautam Gambhir is expected to serve as India's head coach until the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, though an official confirmation on his tenure is still pending.

Gambhir's first task as India coach will be the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, scheduled to commence on July 27. The specifics of the bilateral series are yet to be announced.

Interestingly, despite his lack of formal coaching experience at any level—whether in domestic cricket, the Indian Premier League (IPL), or a national team—Gambhir served as a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, he returned to mentor Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the request of co-owner Shah Rukh Khan. His return saw immediate success as KKR triumphed in IPL 2024, playing aggressive cricket.

Despite not holding a coaching position, Gambhir's aggressive approach and involvement have consistently made him a prominent figure in cricketing circles.