गौतम गंभीर टीम इंडिया के नए मुख्य कोच बने।

Gautam Gambhir replaces Rahul Dravid as Team India's new head coach.

Gautam Gambhir officially succeeded Rahul Dravid as India's head coach on Tuesday. Dravid bid farewell to the team after leading them to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, his final assignment. Leading up to the World Cup, Dravid had already announced he wouldn't be renewing his contract after the tournament. Last month, former India openers Gambhir and WV Raman were interviewed by the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) for the head coach position. Emerging as the top candidate, Gambhir recently completed his farewell video for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he was instrumental in their third IPL title win in 2024. Confirming Gambhir’s new role, BCCI secretary Jay Shah wrote a special note for him on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressing confidence in Gambhir's ability to lead Indian Cricket forward.

“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,” Shah stated. “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. 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,” Shah added.

Gambhir's first assignment as head coach will be Sri Lanka's tour of India. BCCI secretary Shah confirmed that the new head coach will take charge from the white-ball series against Sri Lanka this month. "Both coach and selector appointments will be made shortly. CAC has interviewed and shortlisted two names and after reaching Mumbai whatever they have decided we will go by that. VVS Laxman is going to Zimbabwe but new coach will join from Sri Lanka series," Shah mentioned.

Regarding the assistant coach position, Gambhir has reportedly chosen former Mumbai Indians (MI) star Abhishek Nayar. Gambhir and Nayar, who worked together at KKR during the 2024 IPL season, have a verbal agreement for Nayar to join as assistant coach if Gambhir secured the head coach position. Nayar is also the director of Knight Riders at the KKR Academy.

This will be Gambhir's first stint as head coach at the international level. Notably, he had not held a coaching role before this appointment. Gambhir served as KKR's mentor in the 2024 IPL and left his mentorship role with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to join KKR. The 42-year-old former cricketer has played 58 Tests, 147 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 37 T20Is for India, and captained both Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.

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