Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announcement of July 9

Gautam Gambhir has officially been named as the new head coach of the Indian national cricket team, taking over from Rahul Dravid. Dravid, along with the current support staff including Paras Mhambrey, T. Dilip, and Vikram Rathour, will be stepping down from their roles. This transition signals the start of a new chapter for the Indian team, with Gambhir set to bring in his own support staff.

The announcement was made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on July 9, with the BCCI expressing gratitude to Dravid and his team for their successful tenure. Under Dravid's leadership, India achieved significant milestones such as winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and finishing as runners-up in the ICC 50-over World Cup 2023.

The Cricket Advisory Committee, consisting of Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe, and Sulakshana Naik, unanimously recommended Gambhir for the head coach position. Gambhir, who previously coached the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to an IPL title, is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the team.

In his statement, Gambhir expressed his excitement and pride at taking on the role of head coach. He pledged to work closely with the BCCI, Head of Cricket VVS Laxman, the new support staff, and the players to achieve success in upcoming tournaments. Gambhir also acknowledged the contributions of Dravid and his team, and looks forward to building on their legacy.

Gambhir's tenure will kick off with India's limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka later this month, where he will begin implementing his strategies and working with the team to maintain India's strong position in international cricket.