The India head coach job comes with huge responsibilities and a lot of expectations. Gambhir’s mentorship of Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, along with a successful stint as the Lucknow Super Giants coach in 2024, made him the frontrunner.
“Modern-day cricket has evolved rapidly, and Gautam has witnessed this change from up close,” said Shah, highlighting the experience of Gautam Gambhir, the Head Coach Of India Cricket Team.
| No. | Player name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shubman Gill (Captain) | Batter |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | Batter |
| 3 | Virat Kohli | Batter |
| 4 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Batter |
| 5 | KL Rahul | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| 6 | Dhruv Jurel | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| 7 | Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-rounder |
| 8 | Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| 9 | Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler |
| 10 | Prasidh Krishna | Fast bowler |
| 11 | Gurnoor Brar | Fast bowler |
| 12 | Mohammed Siraj | Fast bowler |
| 13 | Auqib Nabi | Fast bowler |
| 14 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter |
| 15 | Naman Dhir | All-rounder |
| No. | Player name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shreyas Iyer (Captain) | Batter |
| 2 | Abhishek Sharma | All-rounder |
| 3 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Batter |
| 4 | Ishan Kishan | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| 5 | Sanju Samson | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| 6 | Tilak Varma | Batter |
| 7 | Shivam Dube | All-rounder |
| 8 | Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler |
| 9 | Axar Patel | All-rounder |
| 10 | Ravi Bishnoi | Bowler |
| 11 | Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-rounder |
| 12 | Arshdeep Singh | Fast bowler |
| 13 | Prince Yadav | Fast bowler |
| 14 | Mayank Yadav | Fast bowler |
| 15 | Naman Dhir | All-rounder |
| 16 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Fast bowler |
| No. | Date | Match | Format | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 Oct 2026 | India vs West Indies | T20I | West Indies won by 24 runs |
| 2 | 11 Oct 2026 | India vs West Indies | T20I | India won by 14 runs |
| 3 | 9 Oct 2026 | India vs West Indies | T20I | West Indies won by 6 wickets |
| 4 | 6 Oct 2026 | India vs West Indies | T20I | India won by 8 wickets |
| 5 | 3 Oct 2026 | India vs West Indies | ODI | West Indies won by 5 wickets |
| 6 | 3 Oct 2026 | India vs Pakistan | T20I — Asian Games | India won by 19 runs |
| 7 | 1 Oct 2026 | India vs Sri Lanka | T20I — Asian Games | India won by 124 runs |
| 8 | 30 Sep 2026 | India vs West Indies | ODI | India won by 8 wickets |
| 9 | 28 Sep 2026 | India vs Afghanistan | T20I — Asian Games | Abandoned without a ball bowled |
| 10 | 27 Sep 2026 | India vs West Indies | ODI | India won by 8 wickets |
Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the head coach of the Indian cricket team.
The position of head coach of India’s men’s cricket team is one of the most prestigious jobs in the sport. It offers tremendous prestige and power, a massive pay package of over $1 million per year plus bonuses, and is accompanied by an equally immense burden of responsibility and expectations.
The job is also one of the most demanding in the world, as it requires immense dedication and a strong work ethic. The latest person to hold the job, Gautam Gambhir, is no stranger to the challenges that come with it.
The Indian cricket board (BCCI) announced that Gambhir will be in charge of the men’s national team for a period of three-and-a-half years until December 2027. He will be in charge of the team across all formats of the game. Gambhir will take over from Rahul Dravid, who’s tenure ended after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 triumph.
According to a press release from the BCCI, the board has endorsed Gambhir as the “ideal candidate to lead Team India forward.” The board congratulated Dravid on his successful stint and expressed confidence that Gambhir will take the team to new heights.
Gambhir, a skilled left-handed batsman who played a pivotal role in India’s 2011 ODI World Cup victory, recently led Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL crown as their mentor. He has also dabbled in commentary and politics, serving as a lawmaker for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.
While other candidates, such as former India opener W Raman, had expressed interest in the position, Gambhir’s proven track record as a player and his recent success as KKR’s mentor made him a clear frontrunner. Moreover, with Dravid having stated that he would not continue in the role after the t20 triumph, the opportunity was ripe for Gambhir to step into the position.
Gambhir’s first assignment as India’s head coach will be the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is. The board has congratulated the assistant coaches who worked under Dravid – Vikram Rathour (batting), Paras Mhambrey (bowling) and T Dilip (fielding) – on their successful tenures, and wishes them the best going forward.
He replaces Rahul Dravid.
Ahead of India’s ODI tour to Sri Lanka, Gautam Gambhir replaces Rahul Dravid as the team’s new head coach. The 42-year-old left-hander, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles, was picked after a six-week selection process. The BCCI had initially favoured VVS Laxman for the role, but the former batsman opted to stay at the National Cricket Academy and this opened the door for a new face.
Gambhir is known for his determined batting style and has a reputation as one of the most underrated batsmen of all time. He scored 24,177 runs in Test cricket and is a former ICC World Cup winner. He has also been an outstanding opening partner for Virender Sehwag and was once described as ‘The Second Wall’ by his teammates.
Following his retirement from cricket, Gambhir took up coaching and is credited with mentoring the next generation of Indian batsmen. He has worked with India A and India Under-19, taking them to two ICC Under-19 World Cup finals. He has also spent four years at the NCA in Bengaluru and helped develop roadmaps for age-group and men’s cricket.
He has also been a prolific columnist and a well-regarded commentator. His strong personality and ability to communicate have made him a popular figure in the media. In addition, he has taken up politics and served as a lawmaker for PM Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.
Gambhir’s appointment is seen as a big boost for the ODI side, which is looking to strengthen its bench ahead of the 2022 World Cup. Several senior players have recently retired from the shortest format, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, so Gambhir is expected to provide stability at the top of the order.
The biggest question mark surrounding the team is MS Dhoni’s future. The Chennai Super Kings captain is widely expected to retire from international cricket, and his decision will directly influence the coaching appointments. He has previously spoken of his desire to remain connected with the franchise after hanging up his gloves, and this could ultimately determine whether Gambhir or Mike Hussey is given the role.
He will be in charge of all formats of the game.
The new head coach of India has a big task ahead of him. Not only will he have to guide the team through its next phase of cricketing growth, but also help the team maintain its current momentum. This is important because the Indian cricket team has a history of falling behind in major tournaments.
The role of a national team coach is one of the most demanding jobs in the sport, and it requires a lot of skill and tenacity to succeed. Gambhir has been praised for his ability to motivate players and bring out the best in them, which makes him a perfect fit for this position. He is also known for his calm demeanour and ability to take criticism in stride.
It is believed that Gambhir will be a more hands-on coach than his predecessor, Rahul Dravid. This will make him a more effective coach, as he will be able to get the most out of his players. In addition, he will be able to create a better atmosphere within the dressing room.
Gambhir has been in the game for a long time, and he knows what it takes to succeed at every level. He has played for some of the most prestigious teams in the world, and he has won numerous awards and accolades. He has also dabbled in politics, and he is currently a member of parliament for the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Gambhir will be taking over a talented and experienced squad, and he is expected to lead them to further success. He will have to build a strong bond with his players, and he will also need to find ways to improve the team’s batting and bowling performances. He will be able to do this by working closely with the coaching staff and using data analytics to improve player performance.
He has never coached a cricket team.
Prior to 1990, India were accompanied by ad hoc tour managers who would accompany the team on a match-by-match basis. Bishan Singh Bedi’s appointment in 1990 marked the introduction of a full-time coach for the national side. He would later be replaced by Abbas Ali Baig, who coached India to the 1992 World Cup final. The arrival of Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath in the 1990s saw India make a significant improvement in their performances.
The arrival of Rahul Dravid as captain in 1996 and the subsequent signings of players like MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh sparked a new sense of urgency in India’s play. They began to play with greater intensity and made their way into the knockout stages of multi-nation tournaments. But despite this progress, they were unable to replicate it at the World Cup. They ended up losing the tournament to West Indies, their worst defeat at a World Cup to date.
Following this setback, the BCCI appointed Ravi Shastri to complement Duncan Fletcher in the coaching department. The duo were instrumental in India’s revival, which culminated in a semi-final run at the 2015 World Cup. During this period, the team also played some of their most thrilling matches, including an absorbing finish in the Champions Trophy against England.
After Shastri, Ravi Gaekwad and Sanjay Bangar were appointed as interim coaches for brief periods in between permanent appointees. The current head coach, Rohit Sharma, was first hired as a manager alongside Fletcher in 2010, and then as the team director when Fletcher moved on to take sole charge of the national side.
Gautam Gambhir has had a successful career with the Indian cricket team, scoring over 10,000 international runs and playing a key role in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup victories.
After retiring as a player, he worked in commentary and politics and mentored IPL teams. As the Head Coach Of India Cricket Team, Gambhir took charge of the men’s national side in 2024, bringing his experience and competitive mindset to the role as he aims to guide India towards further success across all formats.
Also Read : Indian Cricket Team Coach List
