New Delhi: Tuesday marked the arrival of a new era for the Indian cricket team as Gautam Gambhir officially succeeded Rahul Dravid as the new head coach. While the confirmation for the same took some extra time, would the appointment of Gambhir have a cinematic presence on Indian cricket or will it be otherwise?
Gambhir, who earlier mentioned that the bedrock of his coaching philosophy has always been to put the team ahead of the individuals, promised absolute devotion to the post after being confirmed as the successor. The chair along with a superiority feeling brings a lot responsibility and answerability as its about being at the helm of affairs for a national cricket team.
The former cricketer, who enjoyed a remarkable campaign with Team India as a player, has always been know for a slightly unusual and aggressive stand when it comes to the on-field activities. With the kind of demeanour Gambhir possesses, a fun-filled campaign is surely guaranteed but a lot in Indian cricket is expected to change from the Dravid era. Will Gambhir’s limited coaching experience be enough for Team India is the question?
Gambhir’s success in IPL enough at national level?
Interestingly, Gambhir, who served as mentor for IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2022 and 2023 before moving back to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as mentor for the 2024 edition, has never coached a side at any level, whether in domestic cricket or a national team. Gambhir attained success with the LSG side in back-to-back seasons, helping the team qualify for the playoffs and 2024 marked a fabulous year for him as he guided KKR to the coveted IPL title.
Despite not having a coaching role in the team, the former India player was always the attraction with his aggressive approach from the sidelines of the game. Not only the inmates of the cell, but ‘jailer’ Gambhir would also have to work hard a lot for the growth and success of the Indian cricket team in the future. The role and responsibility that comes along with the post are completely synonyms with the nomenclature as mentoring an IPL side and coaching a national setup across formats are two different things.
Gambhir well-equipped to handle challenges
But with the kind capability and approach he possesses, he might very well be able to pull it off nicely. BCCI always underlined the selection criteria that the head coach entails is considering their ability to navigate the team through transitional periods while maintaining an optimal performance at the same time. With the kind of track record Gambhir possesses as a player and mentor, he seems fully equipped to handle the challenges provided he gets enough time to set his foot in.
Meanwhile, the boys in the setup will too have to adjust to the new coaching environment as the era of Dravid was completely different comparing the personalities of the both the celebrated cricketers. How will the Indian cricket team cope up with the new coach and how long will the adjustment process on either ends take place will be vividly visible in the future but the new association will certainly be enthralling.
Gambhir will begin his tenure from the white-ball series in Sri Lanka, where the team will play three ODIs and as many T20Is starting from July 27.
Gambhir will begin his tenure from the white-ball series in Sri Lanka, where the team will play three ODIs and as many T20Is starting from July 27. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
