Two-time World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the head coach of the India men’s cricket team across all formats, starting with the limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka later this month.
Gambhir shared his feelings on social media platform X, stating, “India defines who I am, and serving my country has been the highest honor of my life. While I’m returning in a new role, my mission remains unchanged: to make every Indian proud. The Men in Blue carry the aspirations of 1.4 billion people, and I will do all I can to fulfill those dreams.”
BCCI secretary Jay Shah revealed Gambhir’s appointment on X on Tuesday evening. Gambhir, who was instrumental in India’s 2011 Cricket World Cup and 2007 T20 World Cup victories, has had a stellar career. He was named ICC’s Test Player of the Year in 2009 and led Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL victories in 2012 and 2014. He retired from international cricket in 2016, concluding his cricket career in 2018 after playing for Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
Shah commented, “Cricket today has transformed significantly, and Gautam has seen these changes firsthand. He has navigated the challenges and thrived in various roles throughout his career. I firmly believe that Gautam is the perfect choice to lead Indian cricket into the future.”
India’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, beginning July 27, will feature three T20s and three ODIs. Notably, batting stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are expected to be rested for the ODI series. Although Gambhir has never officially coached a team, he mentored Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL for the 2022 and 2023 seasons and guided Kolkata Knight Riders to a third IPL title in 2024.
Gambhir takes over from Rahul Dravid, who led India to its T20 World Cup triumph last month. As the new head coach, Gambhir will face significant assignments over the next two years, including the five-Test tour of Australia in November, the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, and the 2026 T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
India is currently on track to qualify for the 2025 World Test Championship final. Gambhir, in collaboration with India’s cricket selectors, will play a crucial role in rebuilding the team for the 2026 World Cup following the T20 retirements of key players Sharma, Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja.
The BCCI had advertised the coaching role for a tenure lasting until December 2027, indicating that Gambhir’s appointment is also expected to cover the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa.
