Gautam Gambhir appointed as India’s head coach, confirms BCCI secretary Jay Shah

Former India cricketer and Kolkata Knight Riders mentor, Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the new head coach of the India men’s senior team. Speculations and reports about Gambhir's new role have been rife for some time, but finally, on Tuesday, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jai Shah officially confirmed the development.

Gambhir will replace Rahul Dravid whose tenure came to an end after the Men in Blue’s historic triumph at the T20 World Cup 2024. Reaching the ICC World Test Championship final and the 50-over World Cup final in 2023 are the other notable achievements of Dravid in the coaching role.

Also Read: BCCI set to give free hand to Gautam Gambhir over team and support staff selections

"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,” Jay Shah posted on his official X handle.

“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," he added.

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

Honoured to be back, albeit wearing a different hat – Gambhir reacts to being appointed head coach

The two-time World Cup winner Gambhir doesn’t have previous experience in coaching. But he has built a strong portfolio over the years by mentoring Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises such as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and KKR. Under his guidance, LSG reached the playoffs in two back-to-back seasons, while KKR won their third title this year.

Also Read: Rahul Dravid approached for new job after stepping down as Indian coach: Reports

Talking about his new role, Gambhir said that he is proud to return to the national team, albeit in a different role. He also vowed to take the Indian team to greater heights.

“India is my identity and serving my country has been the greatest privilege of my life. I’m honoured to be back, albeit wearing a different hat. But my goal is the same as it has always been, to make every Indian proud. The men in blue shoulder the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians and I will do everything in my power to make these dreams come true!,” Gambhir wrote on X.

India is my identity and serving my country has been the greatest privilege of my life. I’m honoured to be back, albeit wearing a different hat. But my goal is the same as it has always been, to make every Indian proud. The men in blue shoulder the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians… pic.twitter.com/N5YyyrhXAI

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) July 9, 2024