Gautam Gambhir has taken over the reins from Rahul Dravid as India's new head coach and will begin his stint with India's tour of Sri Lanka. Gambhir's appointment as coach was formally announced last on July 9. Although he missed being part of the Zimbabwe tour, where VVS Laxman filled in as acting coach, the former India opener is set to take charge in 10 days, marking the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket. However, unlike his predecessors Dravid and Ravi Shastri, Gambhir has no prior coaching experience. However, he has served as a mentor for three seasons – two with Lucknow Super Giants and once with Kolkata Knight Riders earlier this year. Despite his lack of formal coaching experience, Gambhir has a commendable track record. Under his mentorship, LSG reached the IPL Playoffs in 2022 and 2023, and KKR won the title two months ago. Gambhir may not have extensive coaching experience, but he brings a strong pedigree, combining aggression and balance, which is believed to be the right mix to elevate Indian cricket to unprecedented heights.
Kapil Dev's message for Team India after Gautam Gambhir's arrival
Meanwhile, unlike other players who has expressed their thoughts on Gambhir's appointment as India's new head coach, former India captain Kapil Dev chose not to comment extensively on him. Instead, he simply wished the Indian team and its players good luck for the journey ahead.
"If Gautam Gambhir is taking up that post (of head coach of the Indian cricket team), I wish good luck to him and the team. I hope they do better than what we have done previously. I want to wish the Indian players all the best," Kapil told PTI.
Kapil Dev's stint as India's coach was short-lived and marked by significant challenges. From September 1999 to September 2000, the Indian team struggled under his leadership, suffering humiliating defeats in Australia and at home against South Africa. Adding to the pressure, Kapil was embroiled in the match-fixing scandal that rocked Indian cricket, forcing his resignation. Although later cleared of any wrongdoing, the controversy irrevocably damaged his coaching tenure. He made a brief return to the Indian cricket setup in 2004 as a bowling consultant but did not hold a permanent coaching position after that.
Gambhir's appointment as head coach presents a unique set of challenges, distinct from those faced by his predecessors. He steps into the role following Rahul Dravid, who led India to a World Cup victory after 13 years and an ICC title after 11 years. With the Champions Trophy and the third World Test Championship on the horizon next year, followed by the 2026 T20 World Cup at home, Gambhir has a demanding tenure ahead, including the five-Test series in Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year. The ‘Gambhir effect’ appears to be already in motion. Reports indicate that he wants Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who had previously opted out of the Sri Lanka tour, to participate in the upcoming series, as there are only a handful of ODIs remaining before the Champions Trophy in February 2025. Additionally, under Gambhir's leadership, India may see the emergence of a new T20I captain. Reports suggest that Suryakumar Yadav, rather than Hardik Pandya, is set to take over the captaincy from the recently retired Rohit Sharma.
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