Gautam Gambhir, amidst rumors linking him to the chief coach post, expressed his keenness to lead the Indian cricket team, succeeding Rahul Dravid, during an event in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
The former Indian opener emphasized the immense honor in coaching the national team, stating, “There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians and those across the globe as well.”
Gambhir’s resurgence, particularly as a mentor with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2024, has elevated his candidacy for the top coaching role. Praised for his leadership at KKR, he stands as a strong contender to take over as head coach post the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
During the event, Gambhir addressed a question from a student about his potential role as the Indian team’s coach and his experience in guiding teams to World Cup victories. He emphasized the collective effort needed, stating, “It is 140 crore Indians who will help India win the World Cup. If everyone starts praying for us and we start playing and representing them, India will win the World Cup. The most important thing is to be fearless.”
In his visit to the UAE, Gambhir interacted with young cricket enthusiasts at the sports medicine department of Medeor Hospital, sharing insights from his illustrious journey. Reflecting on his pivotal roles in India’s victories at the 2007 World T20 and the 2011 ODI World Cup, he highlighted the importance of fostering a positive and winning environment.
“A secure dressing room is a happy dressing room, and a happy dressing room ends up in a winning dressing room. The only thing I did in the KKR was following this mantra. With God’s grace, it actually worked,” Gambhir remarked, attributing his success to nurturing a supportive and joyful atmosphere for the players.
