‘My goal is to make every Indian proud’: Gautam Gambhir on new role as Team India head coach

NEW DELHI: Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who has been appointed as India’s new head coach of Team India, said that the men in blue shoulder the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians and he will do everything in his power to make these dreams come true.

Gambhir, who hit some memorable knocks as a left-handed opener for India, served as Kolkata Knight Riders’ team mentor in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. KKR lifted their third IPL trophy this season under Gambhir’s guidance.

Gambhir said that serving his country has been the ‘greatest privilege’ of his life. “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”, Gambhir wrote on X.

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… pic.twitter.com/N5YyyrhXAI

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) July 9, 2024

Rahul Dravid’s tenure as head coach of Team India came to an end after the conclusion T20 World Cup 2024. India won the prestigious title.

Earlier in the evening, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah announced that former cricketer Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the Indian men’s cricket team’s new head coach. Jay Shah took to his official X account and announced Gambhir’s appointment as Team India’s new Head Coach.

The BCCI secretary added that he has his full confidence in Gambhir and that he will be the ideal person to steer Indian Cricket forward.

“It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr @GautamGambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Modern-day cricket has evolved rapidly, and Gautam has witnessed this changing landscape up close. Having endured the grind and excelled in various roles throughout his career, I am confident that Gautam is the ideal person to steer Indian Cricket forward. His clear vision for #TeamIndia, coupled with his vast experience, positions him perfectly to take on this exciting and most sought-after coaching role. The @BCCI fully supports him as he embarks on this new journey,” Shah wrote on X.

After being appointed Team India’s new head coach, former cricketer Gautam Gambhir said that it’s his absolute honour to serve the tricolour. In a statement released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Gambhir congratulated Rahul Dravid and his support staff for their ‘exemplary’ with the Men in Blue. The former India cricketer added that he is ‘honoured and excited’ to take the new role.

“It is an absolute honour to serve my tricolour, my people, my country. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Rahul Dravid and his team of support staff for their exemplary run with the team. I am honoured and excited to take on the role of Head Coach for Team India”, Gambhir was quoted in a release from BCCI as saying.

The 42-year-old added that he looks forward to achieve success in the upcoming tournaments with the head of cricket, V V S Laxman, and the support staff .

“I have always taken pride while donning the Indian jersey during my playing days and it is going to be no different when I take up this new role. Cricket has been my passion and I look forward to working closely with the BCCI, Head of Cricket – Mr VVS Laxman, the support staff, and, most importantly, the players, as we work towards achieving success in the upcoming tournaments”, he added.

While replying to BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s post, Gambhir said that he is ‘elated’ to be a part of this new journey. “Many thanks for your extremely kind words and constant support @JayShah bhai. Elated to be a part of this journey! The entire team together will strive for excellence and newer heights,” Gambhir wrote on X. (ANI)