Gautam Gambhir’s much-anticipated appointment as head coach of the Indian cricket team was officially announced on Tuesday. The former opening batsman will replace Rahul Dravid in the top coaching role. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Gambhir will take charge for the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka later this month. The decision was unanimously recommended by the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which includes Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik. Gambhir, who is 42 years old, becomes the youngest head coach ever appointed for the Indian team.

Kohli not consulted on Gambhir’s appointment

According to the Hindustan Times, star batter Virat Kohli was not consulted by the BCCI before Gambhir’s appointment was made public. Kohli’s fiery on-field relationship with Gambhir is well-known, highlighted by an altercation during an IPL 2023 match in Lucknow. Although the two players appeared to have reconciled during IPL 2024, Kohli’s input was not sought by the BCCI due to his absence from the T20I setup.

A BCCI official told Hindustan Times, “There is enough time for the two to have conversations over the table. But it was important for the BCCI to look at the big picture with many youngsters likely to feature in the coming years.” Kohli and current India captain Rohit Sharma both announced their retirement from T20Is after the T20 World Cup, which may have influenced the decision to exclude Kohli from the consultation process.

Hardik Pandya kept in the loop

In contrast, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is considered a frontrunner to become India’s next T20I captain, was kept informed about Gambhir’s appointment. The BCCI’s decision to involve Pandya suggests a strategic focus on the future T20I leadership and the development of younger players.

The dynamics between Rohit Sharma and Gambhir will be closely watched, particularly given reports that Rohit preferred Dravid to continue as head coach. Both Rohit and Kohli have requested extended breaks from the BCCI, making them likely to miss Gambhir’s debut series as head coach against Sri Lanka.

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India’s tour of Sri Lanka will feature three T20Is and three ODIs, starting on July 28. The series will be Gambhir’s first opportunity to make an impact as head coach and shape the future direction of the Indian cricket team.