Tag: Gautam Gambhir

Senior batter Rohit Sharma is set to cut his vacation short and return early to lead India in the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka, Indian media reported on Thursday.

India will tour Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI and T20I series. The upcoming white-ball tour will mark Gautam Gambhir’s first assignment after being appointed as India’s head coach, preceding Rahul Dravid, who stepped down after guiding the team to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 glory.

Earlier, reports emerged that senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah would skip the ODI series against Sri Lanka to stretch their break from cricket after leading India to the T20 World Cup 2024 glory.

KL Rahul was expected to lead the side in the absence of senior players, however, recent reports suggest that Sharma will be back as captain for the ODI series.

This decision comes after Gambhir reportedly insisted on having senior players in the series, considering the fact that India will play only six ODIs before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

According to the itinerary announced by the SLC, India will touch down in Sri Lanka on July 22 while the T20I series is scheduled to commence on July 26 with the second and third T20Is set to be played on July 27 and 29 respectively.

All three T20Is will take place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele before the action shifts to Colombo, where the ODI series will take place.

The three-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka will kick off on August 1 while the remaining fixtures will be played on August 4 and 7. All three ODIs will be held at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.

Schedule for India’s white-ball tour to Sri Lanka

1st T20I- July 26 – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
2nd T20I – July 27 – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
3rd T20I – July 29 – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele

1st ODI – August 1 – R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo
2nd ODI – August 4 – R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo
3rd ODI – August 7 – R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo

WATCH: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman struggle against Naseem Shah’s brother

India’s newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir wants senior players Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah to feature in the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka, Indian media reported Tuesday.

India will tour Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI and T20I series. The upcoming white-ball tour will mark Gautam Gambhir’s first assignment after being appointed as India’s head coach, preceding Rahul Dravid, who stepped down after guiding the team to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 glory.

According to the itinerary announced by the SLC, India will touch down in Sri Lanka on July 22 while the T20I series is scheduled to commence on July 26 with the second and third T20Is set to be played on July 27 and 29 respectively.

All three T20Is will take place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele before the action shifts to Colombo, where the ODI series will take place.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The three-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka will kick off on August 1 while the remaining fixtures will be played on August 4 and 7. All three ODIs will be held at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.

Earlier, reports emerged that Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah would skip the ODI series against Sri Lanka to stretch their break from cricket after leading India to the T20 World Cup 2024 glory.

However, Gambhir is eyeing to bring the senior trio out of vacation as India will have a six-week break before hosting Bangladesh for a home Test series.

It is worth mentioning here that India all-rounder Hardik Pandya will miss the Sri Lanka tour due to personal reasons.

Schedule for India’s white-ball tour to Sri Lanka

1st T20I- July 26 – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
2nd T20I – July 27 – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
3rd T20I – July 29 – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele

1st ODI – August 1 – R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo
2nd ODI – August 4 – R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo
3rd ODI – August 7 – R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo

READ: Former Australia cricketer backs Gautam Gambhir as India head coach

Former Australia pacer Brett Lee threw his weight behind the newly-appointed India head coach Gautam Gambhir, stating that the team is “in safe hands” with him.

Former opening batter Gambhir, earlier this month, was confirmed as the new India head coach, preceding Rahul Dravid, who stepped down after overseeing the team’s perfect T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

The announcement was made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Honorary Secretary Jay Shah on X, formerly Twitter.

“It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr [Gautam Gambhir] as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team,” wrote Shah.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Meanwhile, Brett Lee lauded the decision of Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as the India head coach while highlighting his successful tenure with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

“He’s [Gautam Gambhir] done a terrific job every time he’s had an opportunity. The Indian Premier League title with KKR is the best example. He’s always been there, always at the top of his game. He finds a way to unite his players and graft his team together,” Lee told Times of India.

“He builds a solid structure. He has been a terrific player, and his aggression and winning attitude will help India. He has shone internationally as a player. India is in safe hands with Gautam Gambhir as coach. Congratulations to Rahul for finishing on a high.”

Gautam Gambhir played a pivotal role in India’s success in the 2007 World T20 and ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2011, top-scoring in the finals of both tournaments.

READ: Kylian Mbappe officially unveiled at Real Madrid

Former Pakistan captain and star all-rounder Shahid Afridi commented on Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as the head coach of the India Men’s Cricket Team.

Former opening batter Gambhir, on Tuesday, was confirmed as the new India head coach, preceding Rahul Dravid, who stepped down after overseeing the team’s perfect T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

The announcement was made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Honorary Secretary Jay Shah on X, formerly Twitter.

“It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr [Gautam Gambhir] as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team,” wrote Shah.

Meanwhile, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who shared a bittersweet relationship with Gautam Gambhir, termed it a big opportunity for the former India opener while lauding him as a straightforward person.

“It’s a new opportunity and a big one. It depends on how he avails such an opportunity. Sometimes, I listen to his interviews. He talks positively and is straightforward,” Afridi said.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Legendary South Africa pacer Dale Steyn also commented on Gambhir’s appointment as India’s head coach, stating that he loves his aggression and hoped that he would bring that into the team’s dressing room.

“I’m a big fan of Gautam Gambhir. I love his aggression: he’s one of the few Indians that I played against that kinda came back at you. I like it. I think he’s going to take it into the dressing room,” Steyn said.

“Not just India, but world cricket needs guys who are a little bit more aggressive and play the game a little bit harder. We all play in the leagues against each other and we become quite friendly. I like the way Gambhir is fierce on the field but a gentleman off the field. He’s street-wise and a very smart cricketer from that point of view, he’s going to be fantastic for the Indian team.”

READ: India unwilling to visit Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025

NEW DELHI: Former opening batter Gautam Gambhir has been confirmed as the new head coach of the India men’s cricket team, preceding Rahul Dravid, who stepped down after overseeing the team’s perfect T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

The announcement was made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Honorary Secretary Jay Shah on X, formerly Twitter.

“It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr [Gautam Gambhir] as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team,” wrote Shah.

“Modern-day cricket has evolved rapidly, and Gautam has witnessed this changing landscape up close. 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 [Team India], 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 concluded.

For the unversed, Gambhir recently served as the Kolkata Knight Riders’ mentor in the recent edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Prior to that, Gambhir had mentored Lucknow Super Giants during IPL 2022 and 2023 and helped them reach the playoffs in both editions.

Gautam Gambhir played a pivotal role in India’s success in the 2007 World T20 and ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2011, top-scoring in the finals of both tournaments.

Earlier in June, Gambhir acknowledged that he wanted to serve as the India head coach at a private event in Abu Dhabi.

“Look, I would love to coach the Indian team,” Gambhir said. “There is no bigger honour. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians. And more across the globe as well. And when you represent India, how can it get bigger than that?

“How can I help India win the World Cup – I think it’s not me that will help India win the World Cup, it is 140 crore Indians that will help India win the World Cup. If everyone starts praying for us, and we start playing and representing them, India will win the World Cup. The most important thing is to be fearless and yes, I would love to coach India.”

READ: Rohit Sharma pens heartfelt note for Rahul Dravid

Former opening batter Gautam Gambhir is in pole position to become the next head coach of India after media reports said on Tuesday that he was the only applicant for the high-profile post.

The 42-year-old, a flamboyant left-handed batsman who scored over 10,000 international runs across three formats for India, most recently coached Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL crown.

Applications for the position of head coach closed on May 27, with Indian media reporting Gambhir was the only person to put his name forward.

His interview was set to take place on Tuesday, the Indian Express reported, citing BCCI sources, saying he was the “only candidate to have applied”. The Times of India called him the “presumed front-runner”.

India’s cricket board, the BCCI, has not made any official comment on the process.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The position of India’s head coach is currently held by former captain Rahul Dravid but will become vacant following the T20 World Cup after he decided not to stay on.

India are seeking Dravid’s replacement to lead the team until the next ODI World Cup, scheduled in 2027.

Notably, India have not won a global title since the 2013 Champions Trophy under their last foreign coach, Duncan Fletcher of Zimbabwe.

Local media reports initially said that as well as Gambhir, former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming and Australians Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer had also been sounded out for the job.

However, BCCI secretary Jay Shah dismissed the reports, issuing a statement saying that no Australian had been approached with a coaching offer.

READ: Nicholas Pooran steers West Indies to dominant win over Afghanistan

Former Indian opening batter Gautam Gambhir has backed Rohit Sharma to lead Team India in the T20 World Cup 2024, co-hosted by the United States of America and West Indies in June next year.

Rohit Sharma led India during the recently concluded ICC World Cup 2023, where he scored 597 runs at an average of 54.27 and ended as the second-leading run-scorer only behind fellow-batter Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli scored 765 runs during the mega-event, setting the record for most runs in a single edition of the World Cup, a record previously held by Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were instrumental to India’s dominant performance during the ICC World Cup 2023, where they remained undefeated until the final, losing to champions Australia.

Gambhir stressed the inclusion of both star batters in India’s squad for next year’s T20 World Cup, with Sharma leading the side.

“They (Rohit and Kohli) both need to get picked, both should be picked and more importantly, I want to see Rohit Sharma as captain in the T20 World Cup,” Gambhir said during an interview with an Indian news outlet.

Notably, both batters have not featured in any T20I game for India since their 10-wicket loss against England in the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-finals.

Since then Hardik Pandya has led India in the T20I cricket, while Suryakumar Yadav has taken the responsibility in the ongoing T20I series against Australia with Pandya out with an injury.

Gambhir appreciated Pandya as captain but suggested Rohit Sharma should be leading the Indian side in the T20 World Cup.

“Yes, Hardik has been captaining in T20Is but I still want to see Rohit as captain in the World Cup. Don’t pick Rohit Sharma just as a batter. Rohit is a phenomenal leader and has proved that with his batting in this ODI World Cup,” he added.

Rohit Sharma has led India in 51 T20I matches, guiding them to victory in 39 matches.

READ: Matthew Potts replaces Josh Tongue in England squad for West Indies series

Former Indian opening batter Gautam Gambhir picked Pakistan’s all-format captain and top-ranked ODI batter Babar Azam amongst the top batters, to watch out for in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 in India.

Gautam Gambhir was asked to pick one out of the current top batters — David Warner, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, Babar Azam, Joe Root and Rohit Sharma — whom he will have his eyes on at the ICC World Cup 2023.

India’s World Cup-winning opener Gambhir replied: “Babar Azam”.

“I think Babar Azam possesses all kinds of qualities that he can set this World Cup on fire,” Gautam Gambhir said.

“I have not seen many players who have so much time to play. Yes, I believe that we have greats like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Joe Root, but Babar Azam has a different level of quality,” he added.

.@GautamGambhir will eagerly watch out for @babarazam258's performance this #CWC2023. 👀

Will Babar prove to be the BEST against the rest on the BIGGEST stage?#WorldCupOnStar#Cricket pic.twitter.com/CwccE3r5JI

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 23, 2023

After making his international debut in 2015, Babar soon emerged as the top batter for Pakistan and has been ruling the white-ball formats since then, especially ODIs.

Babar’s astoundingly consistent run in the ODIs lifted him to dethrone his Indian counterpart Virat Kohli as the top-ranked ODI batter in April 2021 and was also named the ODI player of the year for two consecutive years.

The right-handed batter has spent around 900 days at the top of the ODI Batting Rankings and is likely to enter the ICC World Cup 2023 as the top-ranked batter with only India’s Shubman Gill being a major threat.

Babar-led Pakistan will start their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on October 6 in Hyderabad, the same venue at which they will play their warm-up fixtures against New Zealand and Australia.

Pakistan squad for ICC World Cup 2023

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha.

Travelling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan

Pakistan’s warm-up matches schedule:

• September 29 — vs New Zealand in Hyderabad
• October 3 — vs Australia in Hyderabad

Pakistan’s schedule for the ICC World Cup 2023:

• October 6 – vs Netherlands in Hyderabad
• October 10 – vs Sri Lanka in Hyderabad
• October 14 – vs India in Ahmedabad
• October 20 – vs Australia in Bengaluru
• October 23 – vs Afghanistan in Chennai
• October 27 – vs South Africa in Chennai
• October 31 – vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
• November 4 – vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)
• November 11 – vs England in Kolkata

The day matches will start at 10:00 am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other matches will be day-night fixtures, starting at 01:30 pm (PST).

READ: Pakistan team awaits Indian visa to participate in ICC World Cup 2023

LUCKNOW: Indian cricket star Virat Kohli was fined on Tuesday for the second time in this IPL season after a post-match altercation with former national team-mate Gautam Gambhir.

Both were docked their entire match fee, the Indian Premier League said, while Naveen-ul-Haq was fined 50 percent of his for breaching the league’s code of conduct.

Kohli and Afghan bowler Naveen were seen having sharp words on the field during a tense match between Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants on Monday.

Kohli, who has often run into trouble with his aggressive approach, had to be restrained by opposition batsman Amit Mishra during the match. Bangalore eventually won by 18 runs.

Afterwards, Lucknow’s Kyle Mayers had to be led away from an exchange with Virat Kohli before other players tried unsuccessfully to stop a visibly furious Gautam Gambhir, Lucknow’s team mentor, from confronting him.

Kohli took to social media on Tuesday with a cryptic Instagram post quoting a famed Roman emperor and philosopher: “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. – Marcus Aurelius.”

Gambhir and Kohli, who played together when India won the 2011 World Cup, had a shouting match before Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis intervened.

The former national team-mates were also involved in an ugly on-field exchange in a 2013 IPL match.

The 41-year-old Gambhir has become an MP for India’s Hindu-nationalist ruling BJP party since retiring from cricket in 2018.

This was Virat Kohli’s second offence this season after he was fined 10 percent of his match fee for his conduct during Bangalore’s loss to Chennai Super Kings last month.

Despite being one of the best batsmen of the modern game, “King Kohli” and Bangalore have never won the Indian Premier League.

He quit the RCB captaincy at the end of the 2021 season.

He went through an extended batting slump in 2021 and 2022 and lost the Indian captaincy, one of the most high-pressure jobs in world sport.

Virat Kohli, 34, has spoken about his mental health struggles during his dry phase, including how he had been “snappy” to his Bollywood actress wife Anushka Sharma.

He has had numerous run-ins with opposing players and was once reprimanded after hitting a plastic chair with a bat following his dismissal during an IPL match.