Gautam Gambhir

One of India’s most important batters of the 21st century, Gautam Gambhir is writing a new chapter in his career as the head coach of Team India. Following Rahul Dravid's successful tenure after the 2024 T20 World Cup, Gambhir steps into international management with one of the most high-profile roles in cricket.

Gambhir’s first assignment with the national team was the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. While the T20 series ended in triumph for India, the ODI matches posed a challenge. Gambhir is sure to have taken valuable lessons from his early experiences with the team, as attention now shifts to how India performs in the upcoming series later in 2024.

Successes in Indian Colours

Gambhir made his ODI and Test debuts in 2003 at the age of 20, quickly establishing himself as a versatile and reliable opener across formats.

As the opener for India in the 2007 T20 World Cup, Gambhir played a crucial role in the final against Pakistan, scoring a memorable 75 (54) on a difficult Johannesburg wicket. His knock anchored the innings as India secured a historic win.

Throughout his career, Gambhir amassed over 10,000 international runs across formats, including nine Test centuries and 11 ODI centuries. However, his most iconic innings came in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, where his gritty 97 was instrumental in reviving India's chase after a shaky start, despite batting at the unfamiliar position of No. 3.

IPL: Leader and Tactician

In the IPL, Gambhir’s batting prowess was on full display, finishing just shy of the Orange Cap in the inaugural 2008 season. Yet, it was as captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) that Gambhir truly made his mark, leading them to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, breaking the dominance of teams like Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.

Gambhir was known for his strategic acumen, making bold decisions and showing innovative use of his bowlers in pressure situations. His leadership transformed KKR from perennial strugglers to a formidable force, showcasing his natural ability as a thinking cricketer who thrived in T20 leadership.

Forays into Mentorship and Coaching

After a challenging IPL season in 2018 with Delhi Daredevils, Gambhir retired from all forms of cricket, bowing out with a century in his final First-Class innings.

Gambhir returned to the cricketing scene in 2022 as a mentor for the newly-formed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Under his guidance, LSG achieved immediate success, qualifying for the playoffs in two successive seasons. His influence was palpable in the dugout, shaping the team's tactics and mentality.

Gambhir’s return to KKR, this time as a mentor alongside coach Chandrakant Pandit, saw the team recapture their glory. Leading the unit with Shreyas Iyer, KKR dominated the 2024 IPL season, comfortably winning in the playoffs.

This successful stint was something of an audition for Gambhir, whose achievements in coaching, coupled with his outspoken nature, made him the favourite to succeed Dravid as India’s head coach.

All eyes are now on Gambhir as he looks to steer Team India through upcoming overseas tours and ICC tournaments—the true measure of his coaching tenure.