New India Head Coach to join the team from Sri Lanka series, says Jay Shah

Gautam Gambhir set to become the new Team India Head Coach.

The BCCI secretary Jay Shah has said that the Indian cricket team will appoint a new head coach by the end of July, with two candidates shortlisted for the position. Last month, the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) conducted interviews for the role, considering former cricketers Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman.

Rahul Dravid concluded his tenure after leading India to victory at the 2024 T20 World Cup, but the incoming coach will assume duties when India travels to Sri Lanka later this month for a limited-overs series.

Ahead of that, an Indian squad captained by Shubman Gill is scheduled to face Zimbabwe in a five-match T20I bilateral series starting this week. However, for the Zimbabwe tour, VVS Laxman, the current director of the National Cricket Academy, will take charge.

Dravid concluded his tenure on a high note, guiding India, under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, to victory over South Africa in a thrilling final in Barbados. Alongside Dravid, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja also announced their retirement from T20I cricket.

Several prominent figures were reportedly in contention to succeed Dravid, including Justin Langer, Stephen Fleming, and Ricky Ponting. However, it appears likely that Gautam Gambhir, a two-time World Cup winner, will be appointed as the new head coach.

Gambhir's credentials were bolstered by a successful stint as mentor with the Kolkata Knight Riders during the IPL 2024 season, where the franchise claimed the title convincingly. Previously, he also served as mentor for the Lucknow Super Giants, guiding them to playoffs in two consecutive seasons.