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Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opening batter, has been appointed as the head coach of India’s cricket team, succeeding Rahul Dravid. The announcement was made by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah on Tuesday (July 9), marking a significant shift in the team’s leadership. Gambhir’s tenure will begin with the responsibility of guiding India through their upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is starting from July 27.
Gautam Gambhir’s coaching experience and notable achievements
Gambhir brings a wealth of coaching experience to his new role, having previously mentored prominent teams such as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2023 and 2022. Under his leadership, LSG achieved playoff qualifications in consecutive IPL seasons (2022 and 2023), while he played a pivotal role in KKR’s victory in the 2024 edition, securing their third title.
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Andy Flower’s perspective on Gambhir as Team India’s head coach
Andy Flower, former Zimbabwean cricketer, and Gambhir’s colleague during their time at LSG, commended Gambhir for his positive impact on Indian cricket. Flower emphasized Gambhir’s unyielding dedication and profound passion for the sport, traits that have evidently translated into coaching success.
The legend from Zimbabwe further expressed confidence in Gambhir’s potential to replicate his domestic achievements on the international stage, highlighting his strategic insights and leadership qualities as pivotal assets for the Indian team. In a light-hearted moment, Flower also playfully mentioned Gambhir’s hypothetical involvement in Legends cricket leagues, showcasing Gambhir’s enduring influence and commitment to Indian cricket’s future endeavors.
“Well, the first thing he’s got to do is just give up his legends cricket at the moment. He’s quite a man Gautam Gambhir, I really enjoyed working with him. He’s got strong opinions, he’s got strong clear views on the game. He’s very decisive, he’s a very proud Indian, he loves Indian cricket and his position, representing Indian cricket. I think it’s a good appointment and I think he’s going to be successful,” Flower was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
