The BCCI, on Tuesday, announced Gautam Gambhir as India’s Head Coach after Rahul Dravid’s departure. BCCI secretary Jay Shah took to X and announced the open secret in Indian cricket. Gautam Gambhir will inherit a giant legacy as Rahul Dravid helped India conquer the long-awaited ICC trophy on his last assignment in the T20 World Cup 2024.
For Gambhir’s success, he will require a good support staff at his disposal that will make the job easier for Guru Gambhir. Over the last decade, there has been a constant policy as far as the head coach and his support staff are concerned. During Ravi Shastri’s tenure, Sanjay Bangar was India’s batting coach whereas Bharat Arun was the bowling coach. R Sridhar used to be India’s fielding coach.
When Rahul Dravid took over, Vikram Rathor was in place since the 2019 World Cup but he brought in Paras Mhambrey as India’s bowling coach and T Dilip as India’s fielding coach. India’s fielding standards under T Dilip were extremely high during the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup and hence, he might be retained as the fielding coach.
Abhishek Nayar, Paras Mhambrey, T Dilip, and Jonty Rhodes in the scheme of India’s support staff alongside Gautam Gambhir
It is no secret that Bharat Arun has been the key resurgent in India’s fast bowling heroics over the last decade. During Paras Mhambrey’s tenure, although new players haven’t risen up to the scene, the Indian bowling unit has been accurate with their execution which might lead to him continuing as India’s bowling coach.
As per reports, Abhishek Nayar, who has been a shadow at KKR working tirelessly in the development of new players might be roped in as India’s batting coach. Speculations were rife about Jonty Rhodes being tagged by Gautam Gambhir as his fielding coach for team India but T Dilip’s contribution to the Indian team in the last couple of World Cups might not go unnoticed.
As per reports, Gambhir had asked for Vinay Kumar, former Indian pacer and Gautam Gambhir’s teammate at the National Level, to be India’s bowling coach but that request might be declined by the BCCI top brass.
Hence, it will be interesting to see in the next few days who joins Gambhir in his quest for the upcoming ICC titles with Team India.
India’s Probable Support Staff:
Head Coach: Gautam Gambhir
Batting Coach: Abhishek Nayar
Bowling Coach: Paras Mhambrey
Fielding Coach: T Dilip/Jonty Rhodes
