Former India opener Gautam Gambhir is set to be unveiled as the new coach of the Indian national cricket team after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, according to reports.
Gautam Gambhir, who mentored Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title last month, is one of the candidates to be India’s next coach. If the BCCI indeed appoints him after the T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies, it will be the first time that the 2011 World Cup winner will be coaching the team on a full-time basis.
Previously, Gautam Gambhir had mentored only two IPL teams. He was part of the Lucknow Super Giants management team in 2022 and 2023 before joining the KKR dugout for the first time since 2018. On his return, Gambhir brought joy back to the Eden Gardens and Kolkata supporters by helping the purple and gold army to victory. After 10 years of waiting, the event was held.
Gautam Gambhir’s return to the franchise was a fairy tale and important for his coaching aspirations as well. With Rahul Dravid stepping down later this month, Gambhir’s name has started being associated with the head coaching role. Commenting on his appointment, BCCI sources said Gambhir is on the verge of taking over the Indian team, reports Dainik Jagran.
BCCI sources claim that Gautam Gambhir will be announced as coach by the end of June.
Rahul Dravid and his entourage’s tenure in the Indian team will end once the T20 World Cup ends. Regardless of whether India wins the tournament or not, Dravid will not continue and June will be his last 30 days as India coach.
At the end of the month, BCCI sources revealed that Gautam Gambhir would be officially announced as Dravid’s successor. The same source also claimed that Dravid’s entire support staff – Vikram Rathore, T. Dilip and Pravin Mhambrey – will also leave the Indian team.
Gautam Gambhir maintained his demand to bring in his own coaching staff and the BCCI accepted it. If he wants, his first assignment could be the away series to Zimbabwe, which India will play immediately after the T20 World Cup.
The new coach’s contract is a three-year deal until December 2027 or the next ODI World Cup in Africa.
Gambhir joins an elite list of players who have become coaches.
If all the reports are true, Gautam Gambhir will join the elite list of players who have won the World Cup before becoming a coach. The likes of Sandeep Patil, Madan Lal, Kapil Dev and Ravi Shastri have all coached the Men in Blue at various times after winning the CWC in 1983.
However, if Gautam Gambhir wins the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, he will become the first player to win the title both as a player and as a coach.
