Gautam Gambhir was announced earlier this week as Rahul Dravid’s successor as head coach of the Indian men’s national team. Dravid’s support staff, including Vikram Rathour (batting coach), Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach), and T Dilip (fielding coach), are set to depart, as acknowledged by a BCCI media release thanking them for their contributions.
Gambhir is scheduled to officially assume his role during India’s upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka later this month. Recent reports have speculated on potential additions to Gambhir’s coaching setup.
Previously serving as mentor at Kolkata Knight Riders, where he celebrated victory in the 2024 IPL, Gambhir held a similar role at Lucknow Super Giants. His new role as head coach of India may encompass responsibilities he hasn’t previously encountered, as both previous roles were under Andy Flower and Chandrakant Pandit, respectively.
Initially touted as a frontrunner for the batting coach role, Abhishek Nayar, known for his association with Gambhir at KKR, may instead join as a general assistant coach. There are also suggestions that Gambhir himself could take on the batting coach responsibilities.
Several names have emerged for the bowling coach position, including Zaheer Khan, Lakshmipathy Balaji, and recently, Morne Morkel, known for his past collaborations with Gambhir at KKR and Lucknow Super Giants.
While most of the previous support staff are expected to transition out, T Dilip is reportedly considered to remain as the fielding coach. Gambhir has also recommended Ryan ten Doeschate, former Dutch cricketer and KKR fielding coach, as a potential addition to the coaching staff.
Despite ongoing speculation, official announcements regarding the coaching staff composition have yet to be made, aside from Gambhir’s appointment as head coach.
