Team India gets new head coach: Gautam Gambhir to succeed Rahul Dravid
For Gambhir, who served as the mentor of LSG in 2022 and 2023, and KKR in 2024, this will be the first assignment as a coach. He has never coached a national domestic or IPL side
 "Team India gets new head coach: Gautam Gambhir to succeed Rahul Dravid")
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday appointed former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir as new head coach. He succeeds Rahul Dravid, whose three-year stint as the head coach of the Indian men's team concluded with India's victorious campaign in the T20 World Cup in June.
Dravid had taken over the reins of the Indian cricket team from Ravi Shastri in 2021. His tenure would have ended after the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, but Dravid's term was extended till ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the US and West Indies.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah made the annoucement on social media platform X.
"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," Jay Shah stated.
Gautam Gambhir is expected to be India's head coach till 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. Official announcement on his tenure is still awaited.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah made the annoucement on social media platform X.
"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," Jay Shah stated.
Gautam Gambhir is expected to be India's head coach till 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. Official announcement on his tenure is still awaited.
Gambhir's first assignment as India coach will be Sri Lanka tour. India's tour of Sri Lank will begin on July 27. The schedule of the bilateral series is not announced yet.
Gambhir's coaching experience
Interestingly, Gambhir, who served as mentor for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2022 and 2023, has never coached a side at any level, whether in domestic cricket, or an Indian Premier League (IPL) side or a national team. The 42-year-old in 2024 moved back as mentor to Kolkata Knight Riders, for which he had earlier won two IPL trophies, on special request from co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.
After returning to KKR, Gambhir delivered instantly as the Kolkata-based IPL franchise went on to win the IPL 2024 cup, playing aggressive cricket.
Despite not having a coaching role, Gambhir was always at the centre of attraction with his aggressive approach from the sidelines of the game.
He was also involved in the infamous altercation between Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq during RCB vs LSG match during IPL 2023.
Gautam Gambhir stats as a player
| Gautam Gambhir career stats as player | |||||||||||||
| Format | Matches | Innings | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 200 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
| Test | 58 | 104 | 5 | 4154 | 206 | 41.96 | 8067 | 51.49 | 9 | 1 | 22 | 517 | 10 |
| ODI | 147 | 143 | 11 | 5238 | 150 | 39.68 | 6144 | 85.25 | 11 | 0 | 34 | 561 | 17 |
| T20I | 37 | 36 | 2 | 932 | 75 | 27.41 | 783 | 119.03 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 109 | 10 |
| IPL | 154 | 152 | 16 | 4218 | 93 | 31.01 | 3404 | 123.91 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 491 | 59 |
Full list of India head coaches over the years
| List of Men's head coaches | ||
| Name | Tenure | Nationality |
| Gautam Gambhir | 2024-TBD | India |
| Rahul Dravid | 2021-2024 | India |
| Ravi Shastri | 2017-21 | India |
| Sanjay Bangar (Interim) | 2017 | India |
| Ravi Shastri (team director) | 2014-16 | India |
| Anil Kumble | 2016-17 | India |
| Sanjay Bangar (Interim) | 2016 | India |
| Duncan Fletcher | 2011-15 | Zimbabwe |
| Gary Kirsten | 2008-11 | South Africa |
| Lalchand Rajput | 2007-08 | India |
| Ravi Shastri (Interim) | 2007 | India |
| Greg Chappell | 2005-07 | Australia |
| John Wright | 2000-05 | New Zealand |
| Kapil Dev | 1999-2000 | India |
| Anshuman Gaekwad | 1997-99 | India |
| Madan Lal | 1996-97 | India |
| Sandeep Patil | 1996 | India |
| Ajit Wadekar | 1992-96 | India |
| Abbas Ali Baig | 1991-92 | India |
| Bishan Singh Bedi | 1990-91 | India |
| Chandu Borde | 1988 | India |
| PR Man Singh | 1983-87 | India |
| Ashok Mankad | 1982 | India |
| Salim Durrani | 1980-81 | India |
| Datta Gaekwad | 1978 | India |
| Gulabrai Ramchand | 1975 | India |
| Hemu Adhikari | 1971-74 | India |
| Keki Tarapore | 1971 | India |