The Indian cricket team is in the transition phase and the man who will play an important role in this process is the team’s new head coach Gautam Gambhir. The former mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders has replaced the legendary Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid who ended his coaching tenure with the T20 World Cup 2024 that the Indian squad won in Barbados, West Indies.
Gautam Gambhir’s first assignment as the head coach is the Sri Lanka tour in which India will play 3 T20Is as well as 3 ODIs. Just ahead of the first T20I which is being played today (27 July), the former head coach Rahul Dravid sent a beautiful and emotional message for the new head coach Gautam Gambhir in which he talked about his journey and special moments and also gave some advices for Gambhir.
In a video posted by the BCCI on its official handle, Gautam Gambhir is seen listening to the message sent by Rahul Dravid who started with, “Hello, Gautam, and welcome to the most exciting job in our world as coach of the Indian cricket team. It’s been three weeks since I ended my stint with the Indian team in a manner that was beyond my dreams, both in Barbados, and then a few days later on that unforgettable evening in Mumbai. More than anything else, I will treasure the memories and friendships I made in my time with the squad. As you take over the role of India Coach, it is what I wish for you as well. I also hope that you’ll have the availability of fully fit players in every squad. Good luck with that.”
Rahul Dravid also wished Gautam Gambhir a bit of luck as he said, “I also wish you that little bit of luck. As you know, that all of us coaches need to make us look a little bit wiser and smarter than we actually are. As your teammate, I saw you giving it your all on the field. As your batting partner and fellow fielder, I saw your resilience and your refusal to surrender. Across many IPL seasons, I noted your desire to win, your assistance to work with younger players, and your drive to extract the best out of your team on the field.”
Dravid further said, “I know how dedicated and passionate you are about Indian cricket, and I’m sure you will bring all these qualities into this new job. As you know, the expectations will be high and the scrutiny will be intense. But even in the worst of times, you will never be alone. You will have the support of the players, your support staff, the leaders of the past, the management, and never forget for whom you play, for the fans who are very demanding but will always be behind the team.”
Rahul Dravid also gave a valuable advice, “From one Indian cricket coach to another, one last thing. In the most heated of times, exhale, take a step back, and even if it’s difficult for you, crack a smile. Whatever else happens, that will shock people. I wish you the very best, Gautam, and I’m sure you will take the Indian team to even greater heights.”
After listening to the message, Gautam Gambhir became a little emotional and said, “Look, I don’t know how to react because this message means so much to me. And the reason is not because it comes from the person who I’ve succeeded now or taking over from, but from a person who I’ve always looked up to when I was playing. I’ve always felt that thing. And I said it in a lot of my interviews. I think the most selfless cricketer I’ve actually ever played with, Rahul Bhai has done anything and everything what Indian cricket needed. So I think there is so much to learn from, not only for me, but for the next generation and for the current generation as well, that how important Indian cricket is.”
Gambhir added, “Not me, not individuals, but what Indian cricket is. I feel, I think, I don’t get too much emotional normally, but I think this message actually made me a lot emotional, which normally I assume, but it’s a great message. Hopefully, I can… It’s a massive shoes to fill. Hopefully, I can do it with absolute honesty, transparency, and hopefully, I can make the entire nation, and more importantly, the person who I’ve always looked up to, Rahul Bhai Proud.”
Here is the complete video:
https://x.com/BCCI/status/1817039709438378311
Watch this video directly on X by clicking here
We are quite sure that Gautam Gambhir will make the whole nation and Rahul Dravid proud!
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