Gautam Gambhir's Mixed Start as India's Head Coach

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as India's head coach commenced with a mixed bag of results during the Sri Lanka tour. While the team emerged victorious in the T20I series, they succumbed to defeat in the ODIs despite fielding star players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Gambhir's appointment on July 9, 2024, marked a departure from Rahul Dravid's tenure, which concluded after the T20 World Cup in June. Prior to the official announcement, rumors circulated about a potential hybrid coaching model, with different coaches assigned to different formats.

However, the BCCI opted for a traditional approach. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah explained the rationale behind Gambhir's appointment as all-format coach: "We must respect the coach we hire. If Gautam Gambhir expresses interest in coaching in all three formats, who am I to restrict him? Approximately 70% of the players remain consistent across all formats."

Shah also emphasized the availability of capable backups for the head coach role: "We have coaches from the NCA. VVS Laxman stepped in when Rahul Dravid took a break."

Gambhir's maiden Test assignment as head coach will be a two-match series against Bangladesh next month. Notably, key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah will not participate in the Duleep Trophy.

With the Border Gavaskar Trophy approaching later this year, selectors will closely monitor the performances of players competing in the tournament.

Tags: #GautamGambhir, #IndianCricketTeam, #HeadCoach, #SriLankaTour, #T20I