Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was named as the new head coach of the men in blue as he replaced former coach Rahul Dravid, who stepped down from the illustrious role following the triumphant ICC T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in the Caribbean.
With his appointment at the helm of the men in blue, Gambhir joins an elite list of managers and coaches to have taken up the reins of the Indian national cricket team.
The Indian national team was accompanied by ad hoc managers, up until legendary Bishan Singh Bedi took over as a manager cum coach of the side in the year 1990. The crafty Bedi is credited as the first full-time coach, he also acted in the capacity of the manager, as did his successor Abbas Ali Baig.
The responsibility and honour of being named the first out-and-out full-time head coach went to Ajit Wadekar, who took the reins of the team in the year 1992 and occupied the seat for four years.
The trend set by Wadekar, with one man coaching the side and a separate person taking charge of the managerial duties, persists to date and serves as a guiding light for those willing to aid the famous men in blue in pursuit of glory time and again.
The top job has been performed by Indians for the most part of the team’s history, with the exception of the first overseas coach of the Indian national team John Wright of New Zealand, who became the coach in the year 2000, Australian Greg Chapel who took charge in 2005, South African Gary Kirsten, who helped India to the 2011 ODI World Cup and Zimbabwean Duncan Fletcher, who succeeded the Protea after his curtain-call.
Dravid, the man who occupied the hot seat before Gambhir’s appointment bid adieu to the men in blue as he bowed out in style after leading India to their second T20WC title.
Gambhir, known for his aggressive nature and approach to the game will have a huge bearing in shaping the future of the sport in the nation.
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