Gautam Gambhir was named the new Indian cricket team head coach after Rahul Dravid‘s tenure came to an end following the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph. Gambhir, who was the mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024, is all set to take charge of the team during the upcoming ODI and T20Is series in Sri Lanka. Along with his appointment, BCCI made it clear that a new support staff will also be announced in the near future. In the official release, BCCI thanked batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey and fielding coach T. DIlip for their services and wished them luck for the future.

“The Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Mr Ashok Malhotra, Mr Jatin Paranjpe and Ms Sulakshana Naik on Tuesday unanimously recommended Mr Gautam Gambhir as the Head Coach of Team India (Senior Men). The former India batter will take charge from the upcoming away series against Sri Lanka where Team India are set to play 3 ODIs & 3 T20Is starting July 27, 2024.” 

“The BCCI had invited applications for the said position on May 13th to appoint Mr Rahul Dravid’s successor, whose term got over after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2024.”

“The Board would like to take this opportunity to express its heartfelt gratitude to Mr Dravid for his outstanding service as Head Coach. Dravid’s tenure was marked by significant achievements; the most noteworthy being crowned champions of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2024. Team India also finished as runners-up in the ICC 50-over World Cup, 2023 hosted in India & the ICC World Test Championship in 2023 hosted in England.”

“Apart from the team’s dominance in bilateral series at home, Dravid’s dedication to nurturing young talent and instilling discipline and sportsmanship in the team has been exemplary.”

“The Board also congratulates Mr Paras Mhambrey (Bowling Coach), Mr T. Dilip (Fielding Coach) and Mr Vikram Rathour (Batting Coach) on a highly successful tenure. The BCCI values their contribution and wishes them the best going forward.”

“The BCCI welcomes Gautam Gambhir in his role with Team India. The former Indian opener brings with him a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the game. Known for his exceptional batting prowess and strategic acumen, Gambhir has been a pivotal figure in Indian cricket.”

“His remarkable contributions to the Indian team that include crucial performances in the 2007 ICC World T20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, have cemented his legacy as one of the sport’s greats. Gambhir also led his IPL franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to two title victories in 2012 and 2014. In his role as mentor with KKR in 2024, Gambhir helped the team secure its third IPL title.”

“In his new role as Head Coach of Team India, Gambhir will be responsible for overseeing the development and performance of the Indian cricket team. His focus will be on developing a culture of excellence, discipline, and teamwork, while also nurturing young talent and preparing the team for future challenges on the global stage,” the official press release from BCCI stated.

Virat Kohli has been “challenged” in the ongoing T20 World Cup but his lean run is allowing the less experienced players to step up and contribute to the team’s cause, India batting coach Vikram Rathour said on Friday. India outplayed Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval here on Thursday to make a perfect start to their Super 8s campaign. However, Kohli was tested once again in the powerplay and ended up with a run-a-ball 24, his first double digit score in the tournament.

“I’m not happy. I would love it if he gets going and scores more runs,” Rathour said when asked about the team’s unbeaten run in the event without Kohli’s contribution.

“But yeah, it is good when you are challenged at times. You know, the guys who are not getting too much of batting in India sometimes, they are the ones who put up scores today and our middle-order came to play. So, it was good to see,” he said.

Rishabh Pant was impressive while Suryakumar Yadav took the game away from Afghanistan with a sublime fifty.

India will play Bangladesh in Antigua on Saturday. The squad has four spinners and considering the conditions in the Caribbean, it makes the team stronger.

“We’ve always had depth as a team, I believe. But yeah, these conditions maybe suit us more because we can afford to play two or three spinners at times. So that I believe can be our best team. That is our strength.

“It feels like…somebody like Axar (Patel) playing at eight gives you a lot of confidence because he can bat and he’s bowling really well at the moment. So, it does give you a lot of options,” he said.

The former India opener also expected the conditions in the Caribbean to be much better than they were in New York where India played three games.

“We already played in the worst possible conditions in New York. So, anything after that is feeling good only. So, I am expecting wickets to be better (here),” said Rathour.

Bangladesh are coming into the game after a loss to Australia and are one of the easier teams in the tournament.

But Rathour said India will not leave anything to chance.

“They’re a good unit. They have a lot of guys who can spin the ball and they are good in certain conditions. And these conditions do suit them a little as a team I think because the wickets seem to have a bit of help for the spinners and they do have spinners in their team.

“But again, in this format I think every team is a tough team. I don’t believe any contest in T20 cricket is an easy contest,” he added.

File photo of KL Rahul© AFP

India batting coach Vikram Rathour on Thursday said the Ranchi wicket hosting the fourth Test against England has “enough cracks” and would favour the spinners but insisted they have enough firepower to cope with any condition. India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been the top-wickettaker of the series but he would be missing the fourth Test after being given a break to manage his workload. The move has led many to believe that India will go for a rank turner for the fourth Test beginning on Friday.

“Everytime we play in India, there’s question mark on the pitch … It’s a typical Indian wicket, there are cracks, this wicket always had cracks,” Rathour told reporters on the eve of the match.

“It will turn, but how much it will turn and from when we are not sure. But we have enough balance in our team.” He said Bumrah is absolutely fine but it was not “advisable” to play him continuously. The India spearhead has bowled 80.5 overs in three Tests, taking 17 wickets at an average of 13.64.

“I think every Test match is a crucial test match, to be honest. With WTC points, every game is crucial. Even we would love Bumrah to play all the games,” Rathour said.

“But unfortunately that is not very advisable because the kind of workload he has had in the last three games. He has really bowled well and with a lot of heart, a lot of effort.

“For the kind of schedule we have in the future, with IPL and all, it was felt by everybody involved that he should be given a break. Otherwise he is absolutely fine physically. But it was felt that it is better that he gets a break because there was hardly any turnaround time between the games.” India’s top-order batter KL Rahul, who is doing rehab after struggling with quadriceps pain, too was ruled out of the fourth Test and seems doubtful for Dharamsala.

“For me either he is fit or he is not. At the moment he is not fit. I am not sure what percent he is fit at the moment and what is the stage,” he said.

“I am not sure, the medical team will be able to advise that but as far as we are concerned he is not fit and not available for this game, so we are focusing on this team.” Asked about players’ skipping matches in Ranji Trophy, Rathour said: “It’s the selectors’ job to pick the 15. This question is better asked to them, I used to be a selector but I’m not anymore.

“At the moment we see that people who have done well in domestic cricket are promoted. It’s good everybody should get chances.”

Shaheen Afridi (L) celebrates wicket of Rohit Sharma (not pictured) In Asia Cup match on September 2© AFP