India’s new head coach to join from Sri Lanka tour: BCCI secretary Jay Shah

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that the new head coach will join the team ahead of the three-match T20I and three-ODI series in Sri Lanka, which starts on July 27. The announcement came as Rahul Dravid’s tenure as head coach ended after the 2024 T20 World Cup final. Dravid has confirmed that he has chosen not to re-apply for the post due to family commitments.

The new head coach will have huge shoes to fill as Dravid guided India to three ICC finals in the last 12 months. India finished runners-up in the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup finals before winning the 2024 T20 World Cup title.

As per reports, Gautam Gambhir is the front-runner to become India’s new head coach. The two-time World Cup winner recently served as the mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who won the latest edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Gambhir is best known for his match-winning knocks of 75 and 97 in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup finals. He has never served as a coach but mentored the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) before returning to the Knight Riders.

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VVS Laxman to serve as head coach for India tour of Zimbabwe: Jay Shah

Jay Shah has confirmed that NCA head VVS Laxman will serve as head coach for the India tour of Zimbabwe. Shah also said two candidates have been shortlisted for the new head coach role. He recently told reporters in Barbados (via ANI):

"Both coach and selector appointments will be made shortly. CAC has interviewed and shortlisted two names and after reaching Mumbai whatever they have decided we will go by that. VVS Laxman is going to Zimbabwe, but a new coach will join from the Sri Lanka series.”

Shubman Gill will lead a 15-member India squad for India's tour of Zimbabwe. Several players have been rewarded with a place in the squad for their heroics in IPL 2024. All the matches will be played in Harare from July 6 onwards.