Cricket

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.

With Gautam Gambhir's imminent appointment as Team India's head coach, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise is reportedly eyeing Rahul Dravid as his replacement as mentor. Gambhir's departure would leave a significant void at KKR, given his instrumental role in their IPL 2024 title triumph.KKR's management has reportedly identified Dravid as their top choice for the mentor position. The former India captain has a wealth of experience in coaching and mentoring, having previously served as coach of the Delhi Daredevils and head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA).Dravid's availability for the IPL is also a factor in KKR's interest. Unlike his role as India's head coach, which required him to travel extensively, the IPL only demands a 2-3 month commitment per year. This aligns with Dravid's desire to spend more time with his family.Dravid's success with India's junior teams, including the Under-19 and India A sides, has further enhanced his reputation as a skilled coach. His ability to nurture young talent and develop winning teams would be invaluable to KKR.While no concrete discussions have taken place between Dravid and KKR, the franchise is reportedly keen to secure his services. Dravid's appointment would be a major coup for KKR, bolstering their coaching staff and providing valuable guidance to their players.

Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian cricket captain and current Director of Cricket for the Delhi Capitals, celebrated his 52nd birthday on July 8th. The legendary cricketer received heartfelt wishes from his former teammates, Manoj Tiwary and Munaf Patel, as well as his former IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders.Tiwary, who played under Ganguly's captaincy at KKR, expressed his admiration and love for the birthday boy. "You are, you were, and you will always be an inspiration. Love you Dada and wishing you a very happy birthday," he tweeted.Patel, a former Indian fast bowler, praised Ganguly's contributions to Indian cricket. "A big hand of this guy in the development of #IndianCricketTeam where we are today. A very #HAPPYBIRTHDAY legend @SGanguly99. Wishing you a healthy life ahead #Dada," he wrote.KKR, where Ganguly led the team to two IPL titles, also extended their wishes. "Maharaja. Dada. The Prince of Kolkata. Happy Birthday, Sourav Ganguly," they tweeted.Ganguly's illustrious career spanned over two decades, during which he established himself as one of the most successful captains in Indian cricket history. Known for his aggressive leadership style, he led India to numerous victories, including the historic NatWest Trophy triumph in 2002.As a batsman, Ganguly was renowned for his elegant strokeplay and ability to score runs in all conditions. He made his Test debut in 1996 and quickly became a mainstay in the Indian batting lineup. He scored over 18,000 international runs, including 38 centuries and 107 half-centuries.After retiring from international cricket, Ganguly continued to play in the IPL and served as a mentor and coach for various teams. He is currently the Director of Cricket for the Delhi Capitals, where he plays a key role in shaping the team's strategy and performance.Ganguly's birthday celebration was a testament to his enduring legacy in Indian cricket. His contributions as a player, captain, and administrator have left an indelible mark on the sport, and he continues to inspire generations of cricketers and fans alike.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opener, has emerged as the frontrunner to become the next head coach of Team India. This speculation has been fueled by his recent success as mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who won the IPL 2024 title under his guidance.Gambhir's appointment would mark a significant shift in the Indian team's coaching philosophy. Known for his aggressive and competitive nature, Gambhir is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the team. His ability to inspire and motivate players, as evidenced by his support for Ravichandran Ashwin during his early days in the Indian team, is seen as a key asset.Ashwin, in his recent book launch event, spoke highly of Gambhir's character. He described him as a "very misunderstood person" who is often unfairly labeled as a villain. Ashwin emphasized Gambhir's unwavering desire to win and his ability to bring out the best in his players.Gambhir's potential appointment has also sparked comparisons with former India women's coach WV Raman, who is also in contention for the role. Interestingly, Gambhir and Raman worked together at KKR in 2014, when the franchise won the IPL title.However, Gambhir has remained coy about his future plans. Speaking at an event hosted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce, he said, "I just finished a brilliant journey (with KKR), let's enjoy that."Despite his reluctance to confirm his intentions, Gambhir's credentials and the support he has garnered from within the Indian cricket fraternity make him a strong candidate for the head coach position. His appointment would be a bold move by the BCCI, but it could potentially usher in a new era of success for Team India.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opener, has remained tight-lipped about his potential appointment as the next head coach of the Indian cricket team. However, he has provided insights into his coaching philosophy, which emphasizes the "team first ideology."Gambhir, who recently played a crucial role in Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) third IPL title win as team mentor, appeared in a virtual interview with the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee earlier this week. He is widely perceived to be India's next head coach after incumbent Rahul Dravid's tenure ends following the ongoing T20 World Cup.When asked about his prospects, Gambhir said, "I don't see that far ahead. You are grilling me, asking me all tough questions." He added, "It is difficult to answer right now. All I can say is that I'm happy being here, just finished a brilliant journey (and) let's enjoy that. I'm in a very happy space right now."Gambhir believes that putting the team ahead of individuals is the bedrock of his coaching philosophy. "If you have the intent of keeping your team ahead of any individual, things will fall in place. If not today, tomorrow, if not tomorrow, someday it will fall in place," he said."But if you start thinking on that, or if you know that you need to help one or two individuals perform, then your team will only suffer.""My job is not to make individuals perform. My job, as a mentor, is to make KKR win," said Gambhir, who was praised for his role in KKR's winning run this year."For me, the guru mantra is team first philosophy. I think team-first ideology, team-first philosophy is the most important ideology in any team sport," he added.Gambhir said that everyone was a leader in the KKR camp, which had a near-perfect campaign this year. "Yes, I was the leader, but all of us in the dressing room made the change. It was about making Kolkata proud. It was a moral responsibility for me to give something back to Kolkata," he said.The former cricketer, who also captained India on a few occasions, said that treating all members in a team equally is his approach. "In a team sport, it's the team that matters the most. Individuals do play a role, individuals do contribute," he said."But I think if 11 people are treated equally, if 11 people have equal respect, if everyone is treated equally, given the same respect, same responsibility, same honor, you will achieve an unbelievable amount of success.""You cannot have discrimination in a set up or in an organization," he added.Gambhir expressed no disappointment for not being able to captain India for a long run. "I have always thought about performing for the fans, and that has been my thought since the last year of my training career. In the middle, I got this honor of captaining India for six games. I tried doing it to the best of my ability," he said."Otherwise, I have no regrets whatsoever because my job was not to captain the series. My job was to make my country win, and whichever team I play for, make that team win," he added.He does have one regret, though. "I wish I had finished that game," he said, referring to the 2011 World Cup final in which then-skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored the winning runs."It was my job to finish the game, rather than leaving someone to finish the game. If I had to turn back the clock, I would go back there and score the last run, irrespective of how many runs I scored," added the left-hander, who scored 97 runs in that epic clash against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium.

Kolkata Knight Riders' triumph in the IPL 2024 season has been attributed to the astute guidance of mentor Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir, a former KKR captain who led the team to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, returned to the franchise as a mentor ahead of the 2024 season. His partnership with head coach Chandrakant Pandit proved to be a winning formula.KKR fast bowler Harshit Rana recently defended Gambhir's role in the team's success, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to the franchise. Rana highlighted that Gambhir had sacrificed his political career to focus solely on KKR's victory."Gambhir Bhaiya left his political career and everything behind for KKR. He left politics and came back to KKR, and he worked day and night hard just to make KKR win the trophy. He is so involved in KKR. I am genuinely telling you that he did his best to win this trophy. He left everything just to win the KKR trophy. So, sir, why shouldn't he get this honour?" Rana said in an interview with Shubhankar Mishra on YouTube.Gambhir's influence extends beyond the KKR dressing room. He is reportedly the frontrunner to succeed Rahul Dravid as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Dravid's tenure will conclude after the T20 World Cup 2024, and media reports suggest that Gambhir has agreed to take over the role after the BCCI accommodated his requests."We have held talks with Gambhir to become the head coach of the Indian team. He will replace the outgoing Rahul Dravid after the T20 World Cup," a BCCI source told Dainik Bhaskar.KKR's success in IPL 2024 was built on a strong foundation in the league stage, where they topped the standings. They capped off their impressive campaign with a victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.

Kolkata Knight Riders' young pacer Harshit Rana has been making headlines for his on-field antics, particularly his controversial flying-kiss send-off. However, Rana has made it clear that he would never direct such a gesture towards Virat Kohli, the legendary Indian batter.Rana's flying-kiss celebration, initially aimed at Mayank Agarwal during an IPL match, resulted in a breach of the IPL Code of Conduct, leading to financial penalties and a match suspension. Reflecting on the incident, Rana clarified that it was not premeditated and was not intended for a player of Kohli's stature."I didn't plan to do that (flying-kiss send-off) in the first match, nor in the second match. Then people started saying, 'Show us if you could do that in the RCB match,'" Rana explained.When asked about the possibility of performing such a celebration against Kohli, known for his aggressive demeanor on the field, Rana expressed utmost respect. "That's why I didn't provoke him. I have respect for him (Kohli), respect for all players, but I can't do that in front of him," Rana emphasized.Rana's disciplinary issues did not end with the flying-kiss incident. His exuberant antics on the field, though entertaining to some, crossed the line of acceptable conduct in professional cricket. The IPL disciplinary committee sanctioned Rana with a one-match suspension and fined him his entire match fee for his second breach of conduct during the season.This marked Rana as the first player in IPL 2024 to face such penalties. Despite the controversy, Rana, who racked up 25 wickets in 21 games for the IPL 2024 champions, remained a key figure for KKR, known for his pace and aggression, albeit now tempered with a lesson in the importance of respectful competition in cricket's premier tournament.

Former India coach Lalchand Rajput has endorsed Gautam Gambhir as the ideal candidate to lead Indian cricket forward. Rajput lauds Gambhir's astute tactical acumen and unwavering determination, highlighting his invaluable experience as a two-time World Cup winner.Gambhir's successful tenure with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL further solidifies his credentials. Under his leadership, the team emerged victorious, showcasing his strategic prowess. Rajput emphasizes Gambhir's ability to read the game and make shrewd tactical decisions.Rajput also draws parallels between the 2007 World T20 winning squad and the current Indian team, stressing the importance of experienced players. He believes that a blend of senior and junior players, as seen in the 2007 squad, is crucial for success in high-pressure tournaments like the World Cup.Regarding India's playing XI, Rajput advocates for Rishabh Pant as the wicketkeeper-batter and Virat Kohli as the opener. He acknowledges the challenge of selecting the final team but emphasizes the need for a balanced lineup.Rajput urges the Indian team to adopt a positive mindset and focus on their performance rather than the end result. He believes that expressing themselves and playing with freedom will be key to their success in the upcoming ICC tournament.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer and current mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders, has expressed his desire to coach the Indian national cricket team. In a recent event in Abu Dhabi, Gambhir stated that there is "no bigger honour" than coaching the national team.Gambhir's emergence as a potential candidate for the head coach role comes after his successful stint with KKR in IPL 2024. Under his guidance, the team made a remarkable comeback, showcasing his leadership and tactical acumen.Gambhir's credentials as a player are equally impressive. He was an integral part of India's World Cup victories in 2007 and 2011. His aggressive batting style and fearless approach made him a fan favorite.When asked about his aspirations to coach India, Gambhir emphasized the collective effort required for success. He believes that the prayers and support of 140 crore Indians will be crucial in guiding the team to another major title."It is not just me who can guide India to another major title, but the united prayers of 140 crore Indians," said Gambhir. "When you represent India, how can it get bigger than that?"Gambhir's comments have been met with support from former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who has endorsed him as a "good candidate" for the head coach role.During his visit to Abu Dhabi, Gambhir shared his insights on his journey and recent achievements with young cricket enthusiasts. He stressed the importance of creating a positive and supportive dressing room environment, which he believes is essential for success."A secure dressing room is a happy dressing room, and a happy dressing room ends up in a winning dressing room," said Gambhir. "The only thing I did in the KKR was following this mantra. With God's grace it actually worked."Gambhir's passion for cricket and his proven track record as a player and mentor make him a strong contender for the India head coach role. His appointment would be a significant step in the team's quest for continued success on the international stage.