"I would love to coach.." Gautam Gambhir's massive statement amid speculations of him becoming India head coach

Gautam Gambhir mentored KKR in their title winning campaign in IPL 2024.

Last month, the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) invited applications to hire a new head coach for the Indian senior men’s cricket team. Currently, former cricketer Rahul Dravid is the head coach of the Men in Blue. However, his contract will end after conclusion of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024. The deadline for applying for the post of head coach has already ended on May 27.

As BCCI continues to hunt people for the new head coach, many reports have suggested that 2007 World T20 and 2011 ODI World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir is the front-runner in taking over the head coach responsibilities from Dravid. The new head coach will be have three-year all-format contract that will run till the end of ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2027.

Under the mentorship of Gambhir, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinched their third title in Indian Premier League (IPL) history. They defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the one-sided IPL 2024 final in Chennai.

As captain, Gambhir won the IPL twice in 2012 and 2014 with KKR. And then as mentor of Lucknow Super Giants, he guided the team to the playoffs in IPL 2022 and 2023. However, the former Indian cricketer hasn’t worked with any national cricket team so far.

Would love to coach Indian national side: Gautam Gambhir

Amid speculations of him becoming India’s new head coach, the two-time IPL-winning skipper Gambhir expressed his thoughts on becoming Indian head coach. Gambhir said that it would be an ‘honour’ for him if he gets a chance to coach the Men in Blue in near future.

Gambhir, who was on a personal visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), paid a visit to the sports medicine department at the Medeor Hospital and interacted with students during an event.

One student asked him about the coaching opportunity and helping India win the World Cup. “I have not answered this question, although a lot of people have asked me. But I have to answer you now. I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians and those across the globe as well,” Gambhir said with a smile on his face.

“It is 140 crore Indians who will help India win the World Cup. If everyone starts praying for us and we start playing and representing them, India will win the World Cup. The most important thing is to be fearless,” Gambhir said.

Gautam Gambhir reflects on his title-winning journey with KKR in the IPL 2024.

Gautam and Shreyas Iyer-led Kolkata had a flawless run in the IPL 2024. In the league stage, KKR finished at top of the points table with 20 points in 14 matches. After reaching Qualifier 1, they defeated Hyderabad and reached the grand finale.

They once again hammered the Pat Cummins-led SRH in the championship match to clinch their third IPL title after a span of 10 years. The last time KKR won an IPL trophy was in 2014. Reflecting on his brilliant run in the IPL 2024 with KKR, Gambhir added that he ensured a happy environment in the dressing room.

“A secure dressing room is a happy dressing room, and a happy dressing room ends up in a winning dressing room. The only thing I did in the KKR was following this mantra. With God’s grace it actually worked,” he said.

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