Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has now responded to the ongoing association with the soontobe empty head coach position with the Indian team. After recently leading the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title Gambhir has been identified as a potential replacement for the departing Rahul Dravid.
Gautam Gambhir stepped into coaching through the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2022. He had a substantial impact on the franchises early days. Over his twoyear tenure with the KL Rahulled team they secured playoff berths on both occasions.
According to reports, the BCCI has approached numerous applicants to apply for the role of head coach. A slew of international personalities have publicly said that they are unwilling to take on the post due to the massive workload, leaving relatively few Indian candidates.
#WATCH | Abu Dhabi, UAE: “…I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians and more across the globe as well and when you represent India, how can it get bigger than that? It is not me… pic.twitter.com/vWHJSXLyY0
— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2024
“I have not answered this question, although a lot of people have asked me. But I have to answer you now. I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians and those across the globe as well,” Gambhir said while interacting with students at the Medeor Hospital in Abu Dhabi.
Gautam Gambhir
The next Indian head coach will be handed a contract until the end of 2027 and will be responsible for managing all three forms, since the BCCI does not want separate coaches for red-ball and white-ball cricket.
“The most important thing is to be fearless” – Gautam Gambhir on Team India’s T20 World Cup aspirations
The skilled southpaw was a vital part of the legendary team that clinched the firstever T20 World Cup in South Africa back in 2007. He notably excelled in the championship match against Pakistan showcasing his prowess with a wellcrafted fifty.
Gambhir shed light on the strategies essential for Indias success in the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup aiming to break the 11year drought without any ICC silverware.
“It is 140 crore Indians who will help India win the World Cup. If everyone starts praying for us and we start playing and representing them, India will win the World Cup. The most important thing is to be fearless.”
Gautam Gambhir
He also discussed how he brought his vision to the KKR dressing room, which proved to be the foundation for one of the most dominant campaigns in IPL history.
“A secure dressing room is a happy dressing room, and a happy dressing room ends up in a winning dressing room. The only thing I did in the KKR was following this mantra. With God’s grace it actually worked.”
Gautam Gambhir
Should Gautam Gambhir proceed to accept the head coach role with Team India, it will lead to a premature end to his role with KKR.