Gautam Gambhir names MS Dhoni as India's next head coach
Published - 16 Mar 2026, 05:46 PM | Updated - 16 Mar 2026, 05:57 PM
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Gautam Gambhir, as a head coach have won back-to-back ICC Trophies with the India National Cricket Team. He started by winning the ICC Champions Trophy last year, and now he has won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The Men in Blue's head coach has turned India into a dominant white-ball side, especially in the T20 format.
Gautam Gambhir has the perfect record of not losing an ICC knockout game as a player and a coach. Gambhir is now on vacation with the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) to start in a few weeks, and no international games for two months. He has visited Kolkata for the Traiblazers event organised by RevSportz.
Gautam Gambhir thanks MS Dhoni
During the event, he discussed his former captain, MS Dhoni. Gambhir was asked back to comment on the ‘smile’ comment, which was posted by MS Dhoni on Instagram after Team India’s World Cup success. MS Dhoni congratulated the Indian team on Instagram and mentioned Dhoni was happy to see Gautam Gambhir smile a bit after winning the trophy.
Gautam Gambhir thanked MS Dhoni for being present during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and appreciated him for encouraging him to smile.
I wish one day he could be in my position- Gautam Gambhir
In reply to that, Gambhir said, at the event, "Good on him to come and watch the World Cup final. Good on him to ask me to smile, and I wish one day he could be in my position, and I can write the same thing, and hopefully, he can smile from the dugout."
Gambhir talking about MS Dhoni's Instagram post.
— ` (@WorshipDhoni) March 16, 2026
Look at that smile on his face! 🤣❤️ pic.twitter.com/trHU8flU4S
Gambhir wants MS Dhoni to coach the India National Cricket Team someday and win the World Cup as well, so that the former can write congratulatory posts and then Dhoni can be seen smiling while sitting at the dugout. There are rumours of Dhoni and Gambhir not being very close, after the latter’s controversial comment on the 2011 ODI World Cup win.
However, they have been seen together smiling and having a chat with each other during the IPL and also off the field as well. The two former cricketers maintain a good relationship and respect each other. Dhoni will be seen playing the IPL for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Dhoni has also left the captaincy of CSK and just features as a player for the side.
MS Dhoni to coach India?
MS Dhoni has not taken any head coach roles up yet; however, he was the mentor of the Indian team during the 2021 T20 World Cup. The former India captain has retired from international cricket, and IPL 2026 could be his last season before taking retirement from all forms.
In the same event, Gambhir also talked about his next goal as a head coach. He would love to coach the team during the 2028 Olympics, and it will only be possible if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) extends his contract. For now, his tenure is till the 2027 ODI cricket World Cup, and if India wins this, the BCCI might renew his contract.
Also Read: Gautam Gambhir shocks BCCI! Credits KKR for India coach job, completely snubs Jay Shah
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