July 20, 2024
Gautam Gambhir, the two-time World Cup winner, has stepped into a new role – that of India’s head coach. His appointment comes after Rahul Dravid’s successful tenure, which culminated in India’s T20 World Cup victory in June 2024.
In his first press conference since assuming the position, Gambhir addressed several key points. Suryakumar Yadav’s appointment as T20I captain and Hardik Pandya’s omission from the role were hot topics. Gambhir emphasized that feedback from the dressing room influenced these decisions. Yadav’s leadership skills earned him the captaincy, while Pandya missed out despite his stellar T20 World Cup performances.
Looking ahead, Gambhir also discussed the futures of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both seniors retired from T20Is after the World Cup win, leaving questions about their roles in the team. Gambhir’s arrival coincides with a packed international schedule, including India’s tour of Sri Lanka, home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, and a five-match Test series in Australia later this year.
As Gambhir takes charge, Indian cricket fans eagerly await his strategic insights and mentorship. His experience as a left-handed opener and mentor for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2024 positions him well for the challenges of coaching at the international level1. The cricketing world watches closely as Gambhir steers Team India toward new horizons.
