NEW DELHI: Two-time World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir has been appointed head coach of India men’s cricket team in all formats, starting later this month with the limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka.
“India is my identity and serving my country has been the greatest privilege of my life. I am honored to be back, albeit wearing a different hat,” the former batter said on X. “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.”
BCCI secretary Jay Shah made the announcement on X on Tuesday evening.
As a batter, Gambhir was part of the 2011 Cricket World Cup and 2007 T20 World Cup-winning India teams. The left-hander played a key role in the finals of both tournaments.
Gambhir was ICC’s test player of the year in 2009. He also led Kolkata Knight Riders to twin victories in the Indian Premier League in 2012 and 2014. He retired from international cricket in 2016 with 10,324 runs across all three formats. He then retired from all cricket in 2018 playing the final season of IPL for Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils).
“Modern day cricket has evolved rapidly, and Gautam has witnessed this changing landscape up close,” Shah said. “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.”
Sri Lanka will host India for three T20s and three ODIs, beginning July 27, with batting stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli expected to be rested for the ODI series.
Gambhir has never officially coached a cricket team. After retiring as a player, he took up mentorship of Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, and then was mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, guiding the franchise to a third IPL title.
He takes over from Rahul Dravid, who led India to its T20 World Cup triumph last month.
The new coach will lead India to some key assignments in the next two years, including the five-test tour of Australia in November, the 2025 Champions Trophy (currently scheduled to be hosted in Pakistan) and the 2026 T20 World Cup (co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka).
India is also currently on path to secure qualification for the 2025 World Test Championship final.
Gambhir, along with India’s cricket selectors, will help rebuild the Indian team for the 2026 World Cup following the T20 retirements of star players Sharma, Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.
The BCCI had initially advertised the coaching role for a 3 1/2-year role until December 2027, and as such, Gambhir’s tenure is also expected to include the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa.
Two-time World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir appointed head coach of India men’s cricket team
https://arab.news/pe4jx
Two-time World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir appointed head coach of India men’s cricket team
- Gambhir was part of 2011 Cricket World Cup, 2007 T20 World Cup-winning teams
- The left-handed batsman played a significant role in the finals of both tournaments
Al-Fateh grab second win on the trot, Al-Taawoun keep up pressure in title race
- Al-Fateh win 2 consecutive games for the first time this season and move to 11 points
- Al-Taawoun grab late winner against last-placed Al-Najma to stay within 4 points of Al-Nassr
RIYADH: Matchday 12 of the Saudi Pro League got underway on Monday with Al-Khaleej hosting Al-Fateh in the first of the evening’s three fixtures.
Despite producing a strong display in a 3-2 loss to Al-Hilal last week, Al-Khaleej lost 1-0 to Al-Fateh, with Matias Vargas scoring the decisive goal.
Al-Fateh’s strategy was clear: Moroccan midfielder Sofiane Bendebka would be flanked by Mourad Batna and Vargas in a fluid attacking set-up, allowing him to drift between a second-striker role and deeper midfield positions.
The free-flowing forwards enabled Al-Fateh to take control of the final third, with Batna cutting in from the right flank proving to be a dangerous asset in Al-Fateh’s arsenal.
That combination paid dividends in the 41st minute, when Batna delivered a diagonal ball across the pitch to find Vargas, who calmly chipped the ball over Anthony Moris to open the scoring.
It marked the Argentinian’s fourth goal in three matches, with his recent form directly contributing six points — more than half of Al-Fateh’s total this season.
Al-Khaleej were unable to replicate the same intensity shown against Al-Hilal, despite the introduction of club top scorer Joshua King after the break and Pedro Rebocho’s marauding role down the left.
Their clearest opportunity came in the 68th minute, when Rebocho squared the ball to Giorgos Masouras only for his effort to hit the post.
Al-Fateh then adopted a more cautious approach, looking to exploit Al-Khaleej on the counter. They nearly doubled their lead in the 88th minute when Vargas teed up Bendebka, but the midfielder’s powerful backheel crashed against the woodwork.
The defeat marks a slowdown for Al-Khaleej after an encouraging start to the campaign, with this being their third consecutive loss, now leaving them on just 14 points from 11 matches.
Elsewhere, Al-Hazem travelled to the capital to face Al-Riyadh, securing a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Nawaf Al-Habashi and Omar Al-Somah.
The Syrian striker netted his 157th Saudi Pro League goal, extending his lead over Abderazzak Hamedallah at the top of the all-time scoring charts and helping Al-Hazem move further clear of the relegation zone.
In Qassim, third-placed Al-Taawoun edged bottom side Al-Najma in a tightly contested encounter. A late strike from Roger Martinez in the 85th minute sealed a 1-0 win, Al-Taawoun’s ninth of the season, keeping them firmly in the title race.
Pericles Chamusca’s side have exceeded expectations with their stellar start to the season. The Wolves move into second with 28 points, two ahead of Al-Hilal in third and two behind league leaders Al-Nassr, with both sides still holding a game in hand.
It marks the best start to a Saudi Pro League season in Al-Taawoun’s history, a run that continues to surprise in a league filled with established stars.
Matchday 12 on Tuesday starts with Al-Ahli vs. Al-Fayha, followed by Al-Ettifaq vs. Al-Nassr and Al-Okhdood vs. Damac later in the evening.
