Gautam Gambhir - The Beginning Of A New Era In Indian Cricket

Gautam Gambhir will be the new head-coach of the Indian team [X]Gautam Gambhir will be the new head-coach of the Indian team [X]

The Rahul Dravid era of Indian cricket has come to an end on a high note, with the team winning the T20 World Cup 2024. The next phase of Indian cricket is ushering in with the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as the team's head coach. 

What new will Gambhir bring to the table, and how will it change the scene in Indian cricket?


Increase in Strategic Awareness of the team

Gautam Gambhir led the Indian team in some games during the MS Dhoni era in the absence of the then-Indian captain. After this, Gambhir was seen as the leader of the KKR team (before a brief stint with Delhi) and then as the mentor of the LSG, after which he took up the role in KKR. He looked like a great leader while donning Blue Jersey and proved the fact with his two title-winning stint as the captain of KKR.

Gambhir further gave the example of his brilliant mind and strategic acumen while mentoring LSG in IPL 2022. He played a crucial role for the team in the first two seasons, where they made it to the playoffs. The absence of the man was immediately felt when he left the next year, and the team lost the plot mid-way through the tournament.

In IPL 2024, Gautam Gambhir was seen mentoring the KKR team. He played a masterstroke at the very beginning of the tournament by promoting Sunil Narine to the opening spot. The Trinidadian all-rounder delivered with the bat throughout the season and turned out to be the game-changer in most of the matches. 

Besides this one move, there were many instances during the tournament when a move seemed like a trademark Gambhir one. From backing Angriskh Raghuvanshi to using Harshit Rana as an attacking bowler, the majority of the strategic calls made by KKR during the tournament seemed to have been made by Gautam Gambhir.

With the presence of Gambhir in the Indian dressing room, we might see some strategic masterstrokes by the team in the next two years.


Taking bold calls

From his time as the captain of KKR, Gambhir was known for the bold calls he was able to make. If he felt something was necessary for his team to win, Gambhir did not shy away from taking the call influenced by other external factors. 

Gautam Gambhir field setting vs MS Dhoni as a captain [X]Gautam Gambhir field setting vs MS Dhoni as a captain [X]

An avid cricket fan will remember the field Gambhir set for MS Dhoni as a skipper against a spinner, where he had the batter encircled by close-in fielders. He felt that it was the need of the hour and took the call without getting influenced by the reputation of the batter at the crease. 

While India might have had success in recent times, there seemed to be a lack of boldness in decision-making. The Gambhir era might bring about a change in this, and we can see the management taking some daring decisions.


The play to win attitude

Gautam Gambhir always had a 'participate-to-win' mentality. This was evident in the way he led his team during his playing days and the time he mentored the IPL sides. The Southpaw was never satisfied with just playing well. He was in it to win it. The approach often brought the aggressive side of him on the field. With Gambhir taking up the reins of the Indian side, we can expect the 'Men in Blue' to go in with the same attitude.

After Rahul Dravid's successful stint of three years as the head coach of India, the arrival of Gautam Gambhir gives the feeling that the future of Indian cricket is in safe hands. All the ICT fans will be hoping to see a more aggressive, coordinated, strategically strong, and successful Indian team under GG.