Gautam Gambhir Becomes Team India’s New Head Coach
Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn expressed his happiness about Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team. Steyn believes Gambhir’s aggression and fierceness are much needed in world cricket today.
Announcement by BCCI
Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), announced on Tuesday that Gambhir has been appointed as the new head coach. Steyn shared his thoughts on Star Sports, saying that he admired Gambhir’s aggressive style, which he feels is missing in modern cricket due to the rise of franchise T20 leagues.
Steyn’s Praise for Gambhir
Steyn said, “I am a big fan of Gautam Gambhir. I love his aggression. He is one of the few Indians I ever played against who came back at you, and I like that. I think he is going to take that into the dressing room with guys like Virat and some of the other senior players who might not play as big a part anymore. Not just in India, but in world cricket, we need guys who are a little bit more aggressive and play the game a little bit harder.”
Steyn also praised Gambhir for being “streetwise and smart” as a cricketer. He added, “We all seem to play in the leagues against each other, and we become quite friendly and friends. I like the way that he is fierce on the field but a gentleman off the field. He is also streetwise, a very smart cricketer, and has a great cricket brain. So I think from that point of view, he is going to be fantastic for them too.”
Gambhir’s Cricket Career
Gambhir was a left-handed opener for the Indian team and served as the Kolkata Knight Riders’ team mentor in the Indian Premier League 2024. Under his guidance, KKR won their third IPL trophy this season. Gambhir played crucial roles in India’s ICC T20 World Cup 2007 and ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 victories, scoring match-winning runs in the finals.
In his career, Gambhir represented India in 242 matches, scoring 10,324 runs at an average of 38.95, with 20 centuries and 63 half-centuries in 283 innings. His highest score was 206.
End of Rahul Dravid’s Tenure
Rahul Dravid’s tenure as the head coach of Team India ended after the final match of the T20 World Cup 2024, where India defeated South Africa by seven runs to win the trophy after 17 years. In the final, Virat Kohli and Axar Patel’s partnership helped India reach a total of 176/7. Despite a tense defense, India managed to secure a 7-run victory and lift their second T20 World Cup title.
