Former India opener Gautam Gambhir shared a heartfelt message for Kolkata Knight Riders fans before taking up the role of Team India’s head coach. On July 9, BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced his appointment as the team’s new head coach as well. The 2011 ODI World Cup winner will take over the reins from Rahul Dravid, whose contract ended after the 2024 T20 World Cup, which Team India won as well.

“I smile when you smile. I cry when you cry. I win when you win. I lose, when you lose. I dream when you dream. I achieve when you achieve. I believe with you and I become with you I am you Kolkata, I’m just one of you. I know you’re emotional. So am I. I know you’re demanding. So am I. Kolkata, we are a bond. We are a story. We are a team,” he said.

“And now the time has come when we have to create some legacies together. The time has come when we have to write some bigger and bolder scripts. The script not with purple ink but in that blue, the treasured India blue. As we both take our fresh card we promise each other that we will never walk alone. It will always be shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand. It will all be for the tri-color. It will all be about our India,” Gambhir further added.

However, under his mentorship, KKR won their third IPL title this season. Gautam Gambhir is all set to start his new role in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. Team India will take on the island nation in a three-match T20I series, followed by a three-match ODI series.

“India is my identity and serving my country has been the greatest privilege of my life. I’m honoured to be back, albeit wearing a different hat. But my goal is the same as it has always been, to make every Indian proud. The men in blue shoulder the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians and I will do everything in my power to make these dreams come true!” Gautam Gambhir concluded.