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Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir Career

Gautam Gambhir Career

Gautam Gambhir joined as India's Head Coach in 2024 [X.com]

Former Indian cricketer, Gautam Gambhir has recently been appointed as the head coach of the Indian team.

Known for his gritty performances and sharp cricketing brain, Gambhir's illustrious career across all formats has perfectly set the stage for his new role, where he will hope to mould the next generation of Indian cricketers with his vast experience and winning ethos.

Here’s a look at the Gautam Gambhir career across formats:

Gautam Gambhir Early Life and Career

Gautam Gambhir started playing professional cricket in 2000 [X.com]

Gautam Gambhir's rise to cricketing stardom began in the cricket-crazy city of New Delhi, where he was born into a Punjabi Hindu Khatri family. His cricket journey started at the tender age of 10, igniting a passion that would define his career.

Educated at Modern School, New Delhi, Gambhir's academic life was intertwined with his growing interest in cricket. His uncle, Pawan Gulati, played a crucial role during these formative years, serving not only as a mentor but also as a pillar of emotional support.

Coached by Sanjay Bharadwaj at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy in Delhi, Gambhir received rigorous training that honed his skills and prepared him for competitive cricket.

In addition to his local coaching, Gambhir's cricketing education was further shaped by his time at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, where he was part of the first intake in 2000.

Gautam Gambhir ODI Career

Gautam Gambhir made his ODI debut in 2003 [X.com]

Gautam Gambhir's ODI career contributed to Indian cricket's golden era. Making his debut against Bangladesh in 2003, Gambhir quickly established himself as a reliable top-order batsman.

One of the most defining moments of his ODI career came during the 2011 ODI World Cup. In the high-pressure final against Sri Lanka, Gambhir played a match-winning innings of 97 runs, a knock that was both gritty and graceful.

Throughout his ODI career, Gambhir was known for his versatility. His performances in the CB series in Australia in 2008, where he was one of the top scorers, highlighted his capability to excel against high-quality pace attacks on bouncy tracks.

Gautam Gambhir Test Career

Gautam Gambhir was nicknamed 'The Second Wall' in tests [X.com]

One of the highlights of Gambhir’s Test career was his remarkable consistency, especially evident between 2008 and 2010. During this period, he scored 858 runs at an average of over 61 in seven Test matches, including a career-best 206 against Australia in the 2008 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Battling for over 643 minutes, he helped India save the game from a dismal position, underlining his nickname "The Second Wall," given for his ability to anchor the innings much like Rahul Dravid.

Moreover, Gambhir’s ability to score in consecutive matches was unrivalled at his peak. He became the fourth player in the history of Test cricket to score five centuries in as many matches, joining an elite list that included the legendary Sir Don Bradman.

Gautam Gambhir T20I Career

Gautam Gambhir scored 932 runs in his T20 Career [X.com]

Gambhir's influence in the T20I format for India was both significant and timely, marked by critical performances that helped shape the early days of T20I cricket for the country.

Gambhir's T20I career is perhaps best remembered for his role in India's triumphant 2007 ICC World Twenty20 campaign, where he emerged as the tournament's second-highest run-scorer with 227 runs in six innings with three fifties.

Gambhir scored 932 runs across 37 T20 International appearances, maintaining an average of 27.4 and a strike rate of 119.0, with seven half-centuries to his credit.

Gautam Gambhir IPL Career

Gautam Gambhir played for DC and KKR in IPL [IPLT20.com]

Beginning with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Gambhir quickly established himself as a formidable force, becoming the second-highest run-scorer in the inaugural IPL season with a tally of 534 runs.

In 2011, Gambhir's IPL journey took a massive turn when he was signed by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a record $2.4 million, making him the most expensive player at that auction.

Under his captaincy, Gambhir transformed the team into a title-winning side, leading them to their first IPL title in 2012 and again in 2014.

Gautam Gambhir's Coaching Career

Gautam Gambhir started coaching IPL teams in 2022 [X.com]

After retiring as a player, Gambhir transitioned into a mentorship role. He served as the mentor for the Lucknow Super Giants during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In a full-circle moment, he was appointed as the mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the 2024 season. Under his guidance, KKR clinched the title once again.

Post a successful stint with KKR, the Indian cricket team replaced the outgoing Rahul Dravid with Gambhir and appointed him as their new head coach. He will start his new tenure from July end when India tour Sri Lanka for a white-ball series.