Gautam Gambhir demands former MI and RCB stars as batting and bowling coaches for Team India

The BCCI, on Tuesday (July 9) confirmed Gautam Gambhir as the new head coach of the Indian team. The former opener has succeeded Rahul Dravid as the head coach of the team.

Dravid served as the head coach of the team from 2021 till the T20 World Cup last month. His original contract came to an end after the ODI World Cup last year but the BCCI managed to convince him to extend his stay by a few months.

Under Dravid, Team India enjoyed good success across formats. They reached the final of all three ICC competitions across formats with Dravid as the head coach. Last year, India reached the final of the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup although they ended up losing both the games against Australia.

India finally ended their long wait for an ICC trophy last month by winning the T20 World Cup. The onus will be on Gautam Gambhir to ensure that Team India remains on the right track and continues to do well across formats.

"It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr @GautamGambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team," wrote BCCI secretary Jay Shah on X.

Abhishek Nayar, Vinay Kumar to join Gautam Gambhir?

With Gautam Gambhir confirmed as the head coach of the team, the BCCI will now be looking to finalize the other support staff members. Along with Dravid, batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey and fielding coach T Dilip parted ways with the team as well.

According to recent media reports, the BCCI will invite applications for the posts soon although Gautam Gambhir has been given the free hand to choose his own support staff.

And according to Dainik Jagran's Abhishek Tripathi, Gambhir has asked for former India cricketers Abhishek Nayar and Vinay Kumar as the batting and bowling coaches respectively. He further stated that the BCCI is yet to take a final call on it.

"Abhishek Nair has been asked as batting coach and Vinay Kumar as the bowling coach. It is not known whether this will be fulfilled or not," Tripathi wrote on X.

बल्लेबाजी कोच के तौर पर अभिषेक नायर और गेंदबाजी कोच के तौर पर विनय कुमार की मांग की गई है। पूरी होगी या नहीं ये पता नहीं।

— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) July 9, 2024

Neither Nayar nor Kumar have served as the coach of any state or national team but have ample experience. Nayar has plied his trade as Kolkata Knight Riders' assistant coach and has received praise from all around for his work. Earlier this year, he and Gambhir worked together for the IPL outfit. Vinay Kumar, on the other hand, has served as the bowling coach of MI Emirates in UAE's ILT20 in the past.