A new era is all set to start in the Indian cricket. After Rahul Dravid ended his tenure as Team India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir took charge. Even before the official announcement came, it was almost known that Gambhir would be Dravid’s successor. In the first T20I match against Sri Lanka, Gambhir will witness the first match in his new role. Before that, Sanjay Manjrekar downplayed the excitement surrounding Gautam Gambhir’s debut as head coach of the Indian cricket team, minimizing the hype surrounding his first match.
Team India’s Coach Tales and Gambhir’s Appointment:
Kapil Dev‘s team won the Prudential World Cup, stopping the West Indies, India did it without a head coach. It was the third World Cup win, achieved despite not having a coach at that time. Since the 1983 World Cup, Team India has had several coaches. Under Gary Kirsten, India won the World Cup in 2011.
Although the team came close to winning again in 2015, 2019, and 2023, they fell short each time. The long wait ended last month when India won the T20 World Cup for only the second time, giving Rahul Dravid a fitting farewell. Shortly after, Gautam Gambhir was officially named as Dravid’s successor.
Gambhir, who recently led Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title as a mentor and had previously captained them to wins in 2012 and 2014. He is expected to bring a new spark to Indian cricket. Just not Kolkata Knight Riders, he was the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Under his guidance, LSG performed well. Notably, he will be in charge of the Indian team in the 2026 T20 World Cup and 2027 ODI World Cup.
Majrekar’s Sarcastic Dig:
Rahul Dravid ended his coaching career on a dreamy note. He lifted the T20 World Cup trophy after 17 years and ended an 11-year trophy drought. Now, Gambhir is set to feel his place which comes with more responsibilities. Despite the hype and high expectations around the new coach, Manjrekar advises everyone to stay calm. He reminds everybody that cricket is about the team, not just individuals.
He said, “No coach, Lalchand Rajput, Gary Kirsten & Dravid. Coaches when India won WCs in 1983, 2007, 2011 & 2023. It’s really about Indian cricket, not who the coach is. Time we stop thinking there is a direct correlation.”
This comment of the former Indian cricketer has shattered the cricket world. On July 27, Team India will play their first match under Gautam Gambhir’s guidance. Along with him, Suryakumar Yadav will also take responsibility as the T20 skipper in this series. Fans across the globe anticipating a thrilling encounter between these two teams.
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