Gautam Gambhir to be Appointed as Team India’s Head Coach: Announcement Expected Soon; May Step Down from KKR Mentorship
It’s almost certain that former Indian cricketer and mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders, Gautam Gambhir, will assume the role of head coach for Team India. Sources close to cricketing circles suggest that discussions have progressed substantially, indicating Gambhir’s imminent appointment as head coach. This announcement is expected to be made public shortly.
As per cricketing reports, Shah Rukh Khan, owner of an IPL franchise, is also aware of this development. Following the regulations of the BCCI, if Gambhir takes on the role of head coach, he would have to step down from his position as the mentor of KKR.
Monday, May 27th, was the deadline for applications for the coach position. Gambhir is speculated to have applied for the role, though this has not been officially confirmed yet.
Rahul Dravid currently serves as the head coach of Team India. His tenure will conclude after the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in America and the West Indies.
Term of New Coach Extends Until 2027
The selection process for the new head coach will take place during the T20 World Cup. Their tenure will commence from July 1, 2024, and extend until December 31, 2027. During this timeframe, Team India is scheduled to participate in 5 ICC tournaments.
These include the Champions Trophy, T20 World Cup, and two cycles of the World Test Championship, alongside the ODI World Cup.
Gambhir’s Mentorship Leads Kolkata to IPL 2024 Victory
Under Gambhir’s mentorship, Kolkata Knight Riders emerged as champions of IPL 2024. Gambhir played a crucial role as the mentor of the Kolkata team during this season.
After the thrilling final match on Sunday, Gambhir was seen conversing with Jay Shah, sparking intensified speculation regarding his potential appointment as the head coach of the Indian team.
Gambhir: From Player to Successful Captain, Yet Inexperienced as Coach
Gautam Gambhir, renowned for his dual triumphs as a player winning two World Cups and as captain leading two IPL victories, lacks coaching experience despite his stellar cricketing career. At 42, he hasn’t coached at either the international or domestic levels but has shouldered coaching responsibilities in two IPL franchises. He served as a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants in the 2022 and 2023 seasons and later joined Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024.
Under his mentorship, KKR qualified for the playoffs in the inaugural two seasons. Moreover, Gambhir, as a player, was a vital part of the Indian cricket team’s journey, contributing to their victories in the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the ODI World Cup in 2011.
He captained KKR from 2011 to 2017, leading them to qualify for playoffs for seven consecutive seasons and clinching the IPL title twice in 2012 and 2014.
Dravid’s Tenure as Head Coach: An Overview
In November 2021, Rahul Dravid was appointed as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. However, despite his coaching prowess, the team fell short of expectations during the T20 World Cup, exiting in the group stage.
Although they reached the semi-finals of the 2022 T20 World Cup, Dravid’s tenure concluded after the 2023 ODI World Cup. Despite this, under Dravid’s coaching, India achieved success by winning the Asia Cup in 2023, defeating hosts Sri Lanka in the final match.
