More than six years since playing his last competitive game, Gautam Gambhir takes over as India’s head coach at the age of 42, the second-youngest Indian after Kapil Dev in the late 1990s to be given the job. Fiercely competitive on the field, and feisty and outspoken off it, Gautam Gambhir takes charge of an Indian side that qualified for the finals of the last World Test Championship and ODI World Cup in 2023, and just won the T20 World Cup in 2024.
Gautam Gambhir’s career in coaching arena.
Well, he hasn’t coached a domestic or international team previously in List A or first-class cricket, but that’s not unusual for the Indian team. For example, both Ravi Shastri and Anil Kumble did not have prior coaching experience when they took charge in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
Gambhir got the job on the back of a successful stints as mentor of two IPL franchises. Under his guidance, Lucknow Super Giants qualified for the playoffs in their first two IPL seasons, and then he oversaw Kolkata Knight Riders’ run to the title in 2024. So in that regard, Gambhir’s pathway to the India job is extremely different to his predecessor Rahul Dravid, who spent years as head of the National Cricket Academy and coaching India’s age-group and A teams.
It’s true that Gambhir has been involved in a fair share of heated moments – on social media and in person – over a number of issues ranging from cricket to politics. However, he is believed to be someone who goes to great lengths to stick up for those in his team. For example, his altercation with Kohli in IPL 2023 is believed to be a result of him not taking kindly to a verbal spat between Kohli and the LSG fast bowler Naveen Ul Haq.
And in 2017, he had a run-in with the Delhi state coach over the handling of youngsters in the team. Gautam Gambhir has been outspoken against giving an individual excessive limelight in a team game, a philosophy he followed during his mentoring stints at LSG and KKR. While many former cricketers have welcomed this move by India post WT20 triumph.
The BCCI appointed hot-favorite Gautam Gambhir as Rahul Dravid’s replacement and the decision has left fans with plenty of excitement. Former Zimbabwe player Andy Flower praised Gambhir and pointed out his contribution to Indian cricket.
Andy Flower hails Team India’s decision to appoint Gautam Gambhir as head coach post T20 WC triumph
Former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper and current Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) coach Andy Flower backed India’s decision to appoint Gautam Gambhir as head coach. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ended an extended wait by announcing the same on July 9. Flower worked with Gambhir for two years in the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) setup in 2022 and 2023. While Flower was the franchise’s head coach, Gambhir was the Team mentor.
The side qualified for the playoffs in both seasons before Flower moved to RCB as head coach and Gambhir became the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor.
Speaking on Sony Sports ahead of the India-Zimbabwe third T20I, Flower backed Gambhir to taste success as India’s head coach.
“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,” said Flower.
Gautam Gambhir will replace Rahul Dravid after the latter coached India from November 2021. Dravid’s final coaching assignment saw Team India triumph in the recently concluded T20 World Cup.