Gautam Gambhir was officially unveiled as Team India’s head coach on Tuesday, July 9. The announcement was made by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah via a post on X (formerly known as Twitter). The former India opener takes over from Rahul Dravid, who had been at the helm since 2021 and led India to a T20 World Cup victory last month.
Gambhir had been the frontrunner for the position for some time, with speculation about his appointment beginning in May while he was serving as a mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. Despite accepting the role, reports indicate that Gambhir is yet to finalize salary negotiations with the board. This financial discussion had reportedly delayed the official announcement of his appointment.
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Even though the BCCI has confirmed Gambhir as the new head coach, the salary negotiations are still ongoing. According to a report by PTI, his salary is expected to be similar to that of his predecessor, Rahul Dravid.
A BCCI source explained the situation, saying, “For Gautam, it was important that he took charge, and salary and other details can be worked out subsequently. This situation is reminiscent of Ravi Shastri’s appointment in 2014, where he was first made Director of Cricket before contract details were finalized.”
🚨 NEWS 🚨
Mr Gautam Gambhir appointed as Head Coach – Team India (Senior Men).
Mr Gambhir 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.
All The Details 🔽 #TeamIndia | @GautamGambhir
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 9, 2024
“The day Ravi joined, he didn’t even have a contract, and things were worked out later. In Gautam’s case, some finer details are still being addressed, but the salary will be in the same range as Rahul Dravid’s,” the source added.
Following the announcement, Gambhir took to X to share his excitement about returning to the Indian team in a new capacity. He expressed his commitment to making the country proud and emphasized his readiness to start this new chapter.
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Gambhir’s first assignment as head coach will be the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, which begins later this month. Before the series, the BCCI is also expected to finalize the support staff, including the batting and bowling coaches. Reports suggest that former cricketers Abhishek Nayar and Vinay Kumar are strong contenders for these roles.
Gambhir’s appointment marks a new era for Indian cricket, with fans and analysts eager to see how his leadership and strategic insights will shape the team’s future performances. His success with the Kolkata Knight Riders, where he played a pivotal role as a mentor, has set high expectations for his tenure as the national team’s head coach.
