Tag: India head coach

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).

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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

India captain Rohit Sharma said on Tuesday that he had unsuccessfully tried to convince Rahul Dravid to stay on as head coach, hailing him as “a big role model.”

Dravid said ahead of India’s opening match at the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 against Ireland in New York on Wednesday that the tournament would be his last act as the head coach.

Dravid’s contract runs out at the end of the month and he will not reapply for the job, after almost three years in charge.

“I’ve enjoyed every bit of it, working with him,” Rohit, who has played under and with Dravid for India, told reporters on the eve of the Ireland game.

He added: “I tried convincing him to stay, but obviously there are a lot of things that he needs to look after as well.

“I’ve personally enjoyed my time with him. I’m sure the rest of the guys will say the same. It’s been great working with him.”

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India have failed to win a global trophy under Dravid but Rohit was nevertheless full of praise for the 51-year-old former national skipper.

“Such a big role model for all of us,” Rohit Sharma said. “Growing up we watched him play and we know what he’s achieved personally as a player and what he’s done for the team over the years.”

He added: “He’s shown a lot of great determination throughout his career, and that’s something that when he came here as a coach, I wanted to learn from him. It’s been very fruitful.”

Rahul Dravid took over the team from Ravi Shastri after the 2021 T20 World Cup.

This year’s edition in the United States and West Indies is his last chance to end India’s search for major international silverware that stretches back to 2013.

Dravid oversaw runs to the finals of both the World Test Championship and their home 50-over World Cup last year, but they came up short against Australia each time.

READ: T20 World Cup 2024: Imad Wasim ruled out of Pakistan-USA match

Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower has recently cleared the air about the prospect of becoming the head coach of India, showing a lack of interest in the position.

India’s current head coach Rahul Dravid has confirmed ahead of the the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 that he will not be continuing in the role after the mega-event.

Flower, the head coach of the IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru, was asked about the possibility of talking up the role with the Indian team after the playoff game against Rajasthan Royals yesterday.

“I haven’t applied. I won’t be applying. I am happy with my involvement in the franchise game at the moment,” Flower said during the press conference.

“It’s intriguing work, and I am fortunate to collaborate with some fantastic organizations, which I am thoroughly enjoying right now,” he added.

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Notably, legendary Australian captain Ricky Ponting has also turned down the offer to become the head coach of India recently.

Ponting confirmed that he was approached for the job and he would have loved to accept the offer, but his current commitments did not allow him to do so.

The three-time World Cup winner is currently the head coach of Delhi Capitals in IPL and Washington Freedom in MLC. He is also working as the head of strategy at Hobart Hurricanes in BBL.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is currently in the process of seeking applications from potential candidates to become the next head coach for a three-and-a-half-year period. The deadline for submitting applications is May 27.

READ: Imad Wasim has “no individual goal” for T20 World Cup

Legendary Australian captain Ricky Ponting has revealed that he was offered to become head coach of India, however, he declined the offer.

Reports surfaced that Ponting was contacted to take up the role after current Indian head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed that he will not be continuing after the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Ponting confirmed that he was approached for the job and he would have loved to accept the offer, but his current commitments did not allow him to do so.

“I’ve seen a lot of reports about it,” Ponting told the ICC Review. “There were a few little one-on-one conversations during the IPL, just to get a level of interest from me as to whether I would do it.

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“I’d love to be a senior coach of a national team, but with the other things that I have in my life and wanting to have a bit of time at home…everyone knows if you take a job working with the Indian team you can’t be involved in an IPL team, so it would take that out of it as well.

“Also, a national head coach is a 10 or 11-month of the year job, and as much as I’d like to do it, it just doesn’t fit into my lifestyle right now and the things that I really enjoy doing.”

The three-time World Cup winner is currently the head coach of Delhi Capitals in IPL and Washington Freedom in MLC. He is also working as the head of strategy at Hobart Hurricanes in BBL.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is currently in the process of seeking applications from potential candidates to become the next head coach for a three-and-a-half-year period. The deadline for submitting applications is May 27.

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