BCCI has appointed the Former T20 and ODI World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir as the successor of Rahul Dravid for the position of Indian head coach. He will be starting his tenure later this month with his his first assignment being India's tour of Sri Lanka for three ODIs and three T20Is. However, reports suggest that the Indian Cricket Board did not consult Virat Kohli while appointing the former opener as the coach but Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya were kept in the loop.
BCCI did not consult Kohli before Gambhir's appointment
As per a report from Hindustan Times, BCCI did not keep former Indian captain Virat Kohli in the loop while appointing Gautam Gambhir as the new Indian head coach. However, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya were in the loop. Both Virat and Gautam had their fair share of on-field heated altercations but both of them buried them during the IPL 2024 edition.
“There is enough time for the two to have conversations over the table. But it was important for the BCCI to look at the big picture with many youngsters likely to feature in the coming years,” a BCCI official told Hindustan Times.
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BCCI turns down Gautam Gambhir's request
Shubman Gill-led Team India is currently on the tour of Zimbabwe with NCA head VVS Laxman as their head coach. Sports Tak understands that ahead of joining the Indian team BCCI turned down Gambhir's wish to join the Men in Blue side from the Zimbabwe tour itself. However, top officials from BCCI turned it down and asked him to join from Sri Lanka tour, where India will compete for three T20Is and ODIs.
“The BCCI welcomes Gautam Gambhir in his role with Team India. 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. His remarkable contributions to the Indian team that include crucial performances in the 2007 ICC World T20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, have cemented his legacy as one of the sport's greats,” BCCI wrote in their official statement.
“Gambhir also led his IPL franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to two title victories in 2012 and 2014. In his role as mentor with KKR in 2024, Gambhir helped the team secure its third IPL title. In his new role as Head Coach of Team India, Gambhir will be responsible for overseeing the development and performance of the Indian cricket 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,” the statement further added.
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