Cricket

Gautam Gambhir's appointment as the new Indian cricket team head coach has triggered a chain reaction in the coaching landscape of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). With Gambhir's departure, KKR is actively seeking a replacement, and legendary South African cricketer Jacques Kallis has emerged as a potential candidate.Kallis, who was part of KKR's playing squad during his illustrious career, has a deep understanding of the franchise and its culture. He played a pivotal role in KKR's IPL triumphs in 2012 and 2014 under Gambhir's captaincy.After retiring from playing, Kallis served as KKR's batting consultant in 2015 and was subsequently appointed head coach in 2016. He held the position for four seasons until 2019, when he stepped down to join the South Africa cricket team as their batting consultant.With Gambhir's move to the Indian team, KKR is keen on bringing Kallis back into the fold. His experience and familiarity with the franchise make him an ideal candidate to lead KKR's coaching staff.According to a report by The Telegraph, Kallis's name is "doing the rounds" as a potential replacement for Gambhir. The report states that KKR is "on the lookout for a replacement for Gambhir, who was key to its third IPL crown this year."If Kallis does return to KKR, he will be tasked with building on the success achieved under Gambhir's leadership. KKR won the IPL title in 2024 under Gambhir's guidance, and the franchise will be hoping that Kallis can continue that winning momentum.

Former Zimbabwean cricketer and current Royal Challengers Bangalore head coach Andy Flower has expressed his support for the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to appoint Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the Indian cricket team.Flower, who worked with Gambhir during their time together at Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL), praised Gambhir's strong opinions and clear views on the game. He believes that Gambhir's decisiveness and passion for Indian cricket make him an ideal candidate for the role."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," Flower said on Sony Sports ahead of the third T20I match between India and Zimbabwe.Gambhir, a former India opener, has a successful track record as a player and mentor. He led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their first two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, and under his mentorship, KKR won their third IPL title in 2024.BCCI president Roger Binny stated that Gambhir's appointment marks a new chapter for Team India. He highlighted Gambhir's experience and leadership qualities as key factors in his selection."Gautam Gambhir's appointment as Team India's new head coach marks a new chapter. His experience and leadership qualities make him the ideal candidate to guide the team forward," Binny said.Gambhir was selected over WV Raman, who was also interviewed for the position. Binny emphasized that Gambhir's experience and vision for the team ultimately led to his appointment.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the senior men's cricket team. Gambhir's appointment comes after Rahul Dravid's tenure ended with the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024.Since Gambhir's appointment, there have been speculations about the coaching support staff. According to reports, Gambhir requested the inclusion of Jonty Rhodes as fielding coach, but the BCCI declined the request. The board reportedly wants to maintain an all-Indian support staff.The current support staff, including batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip, saw their tenures end with Dravid's departure. However, the BCCI's plan to keep an all-Indian support staff suggests that Dilip may continue as India's fielding coach.Gambhir inherits a formidable Indian team that recently won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and finished as runners-up in the 2023 ODI World Cup and World Test Championship. He faces several challenges, including building camaraderie with former teammates like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.Gambhir's path to the head coach position has involved mentorship roles in the IPL, despite his lack of substantial coaching experience. This was also the case for Ravi Shastri and Anil Kumble when they were appointed to the top job in the Indian team.Under Gambhir's mentorship, Lucknow Super Giants reached the playoffs in consecutive seasons. He then moved to Kolkata Knight Riders, the team he led to two IPL titles, and guided them to the trophy in May.

Former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator Aakash Chopra has highlighted the crucial task facing newly appointed Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir: ensuring a seamless transition after the 2025 Champions Trophy. With Indian captain Rohit Sharma and batting stalwart Virat Kohli approaching the twilight of their careers, Chopra believes Gambhir must determine their future roles in the ODI setup leading up to the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.Gambhir, who officially took over from Rahul Dravid after India's triumph at the 2024 T20 World Cup, inherits a legacy of success left by his predecessor. Chopra emphasized the importance of maintaining and building upon this legacy, particularly in the 50-over format."ODI cricket will be a 50-50 situation," Chopra said. "What happens after the Champions Trophy? The next World Cup is in 2027, so the transition will start after the Champions Trophy itself. He will have to figure it out."Chopra acknowledged the delicate balance Gambhir must strike between phasing out the experienced players and nurturing the next generation. However, he noted that the retirements of Kohli, Rohit, and Ravindra Jadeja from T20I cricket have eased some of the pressure on Gambhir in the shortest format."India have reached the finals of the last three ICC events," Chopra said. "Dravid has left behind a fantastic legacy. Rohit Sharma also wrote a huge post about that legacy. Maintaining and taking the legacy forward will be a challenging task (for Gambhir)."Gambhir's first assignment as India coach will be a white-ball series against Sri Lanka in late July. The series will provide an early indication of his approach and the direction he intends to take the team.

India's tour of Sri Lanka in late July and early August will mark a significant milestone for both teams as they embark on a new era under their respective head coaches. The series will comprise three T20Is and as many ODIs, providing an opportunity for both sides to assess their progress and prepare for upcoming challenges.The tour will commence with back-to-back T20Is on July 26 and 27 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The action will then shift to the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo for the ODI series, which will begin on August 1. Each ODI will be separated by a two-day gap.For India, this series will be the first assignment under the leadership of newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir, a former India opener, will be tasked with continuing the team's success following their triumph at the T20 World Cup 2024 under Rahul Dravid.Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be guided by interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya. Jayasuriya, a legendary all-rounder, will be aiming to revive Sri Lanka's fortunes after their disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup.India's last tour of Sri Lanka in July 2021 saw them emerge victorious in the ODI series (2-1) while Sri Lanka claimed the T20Is by the same margin. This time around, both teams will be eager to prove their mettle and establish themselves as contenders in the international arena.The T20I series will be India's second since their T20 World Cup triumph, following their ongoing tour of Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from their early exit from the T20 World Cup and showcase their talent in front of their home crowd.With a mix of experienced and emerging players in both squads, the India-Sri Lanka series promises to be an exciting and competitive affair. The matches will provide valuable insights into the teams' strengths and weaknesses as they prepare for future challenges, including the upcoming ODI World Cup in 2026.

Gautam Gambhir's Coaching Staff: BCCI Considers Ryan ten DoeschateFollowing his appointment as India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir has reportedly requested the inclusion of former Netherlands international Ryan ten Doeschate in his support staff. This move would mark a slight deviation from the BCCI's recent emphasis on Indian coaches.Ten Doeschate has been a vocal supporter of Gambhir, describing him as a "thorough professional" dedicated to team goals. The Dutchman previously served as Gambhir's assistant during the latter's tenure as mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where they won the 2024 Indian Premier League title. Ten Doeschate held the role of fielding coach for KKR and is also involved with the franchise's teams in the Caribbean Premier League and Major League Cricket.According to Cricbuzz, the BCCI is currently discussing ten Doeschate's potential appointment. However, the board is keen to retain T Dilip as the fielding coach. This could lead to ten Doeschate being considered for a different role within the coaching setup.Another member of Gambhir's KKR coaching staff, Abhishek Nayar, is also being considered for the role of India's assistant coach. Nayar served as KKR's batting coach during the 2024 IPL season.If Gambhir and the BCCI are successful in securing both Nayar and ten Doeschate, it would create a significant void in KKR's coaching setup. Gambhir replaced Rahul Dravid as India's head coach last week after Dravid's tenure ended with India's victory in the T20 World Cup.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 witnessed a heartwarming display of camaraderie between former rivals Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli. The two, who had a heated on-field altercation in IPL 2023, were seen embracing and joking about their past feuds.Gambhir's recent appointment as the head coach of the Indian national cricket team has reignited the spotlight on his relationship with Kohli, a senior player and former captain. Reports suggest that Kohli was not consulted before Gambhir's appointment, raising questions about the dynamics between the two.However, a BCCI official has stated that there is ample time for discussions between Gambhir and Kohli. The official emphasized the need to focus on the bigger picture, as the team prepares to integrate young talents in the coming years.The decision to appoint Gambhir was made by the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which consulted several players, including Hardik Pandya. The CAC unanimously recommended Gambhir for his aggressive approach and strategic mindset, which they believe will benefit the team's future.Gambhir's appointment is seen as a forward-looking move by the BCCI, aimed at fostering a competitive and aggressive playing style. His tenure as head coach will be crucial in shaping the future of Indian cricket, particularly with the integration of many young talents into the national squad.

Former India all-rounder Abhishek Nayar is reportedly set to become India's new assistant coach under newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir, who mentored Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the 2024 IPL title, is said to be impressed with Nayar's work as an assistant coach at the franchise since 2018.Nayar's strong relationship with India's ODI and Test captain Rohit Sharma is also seen as a factor in his potential appointment. In the past, wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik and leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy have praised Nayar's coaching methods.KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit has lauded Nayar's contribution to the team's IPL triumph, highlighting his work with domestic players throughout the year. Nayar has also played a mentoring role for youngsters like Shreyas Iyer, both in the Mumbai team and at KKR.Meanwhile, reports suggest that the BCCI is considering India's pace bowling great Zaheer Khan as the men's team's new bowling coach. Gambhir is believed to have proposed former India speedster Vinay Kumar for the role, with L Balaji also being an option.One member of Rahul Dravid's outgoing staff, fielding coach T Dilip, could be retained under Gambhir's leadership.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opener known for his passionate and disciplinarian approach to coaching, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team. Gambhir's appointment comes after Rahul Dravid's successful tenure ended with India's triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024.Gambhir, who has previously mentored Lucknow Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has a proven track record of success. He led KKR to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, and guided the franchise to victory in the 2024 edition.The Indian cricket fraternity has welcomed Gambhir's appointment, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the team to further glory. The BCCI had approached Gambhir after his success with KKR, where he returned as mentor this season.Gambhir's era as head coach will begin with a white-ball series in Sri Lanka, where India will play three ODIs and as many T20Is starting on July 27. The former India pacer RP Singh praised Gambhir's journey from player to coach, highlighting his hard work and dedication.Gambhir's appointment has been met with enthusiasm by fans and experts alike. His passion for the game and his ability to inspire players are expected to be key factors in India's continued success on the international stage.