NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer known for his aggressive and fierce approach on the field, Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the new head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah, following the conclusion of Rahul Dravid’s tenure after India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024.

Former South African pacer Dale Steyn expressed his happiness and support for Gambhir’s appointment. Steyn, who has shared the field with Gambhir on several occasions, praised the former Indian opener’s aggression and fierceness, qualities that he believes are missing from modern-day cricket due to the popularity of franchise T20 leagues, where players tend to develop friendships across teams.

“I am a big fan of Gautam Gambhir. I love his aggression. He is one of the few Indians I ever played against who came back at you, and I like that. I think he is going to take that into the dressing room with guys like Virat and some of the other senior players who might not play as big a part anymore. I am not too sure. Not just in India, but in world cricket, we need guys who are a little bit more aggressive and play the game a little bit harder,” Steyn told Star Sports, as quoted by ANI.


Beyond his on-field aggression, Steyn also lauded Gambhir for being “streetwise and smart” as a cricketer.

“We all seem to play in the leagues against each other, and we become quite friendly and friends. I like the way that he is fierce on the field but a gentleman off the field. He is also streetwise, a very smart cricketer, and has a great cricket brain. So I think from that point of view, he is going to be fantastic for them too,” the former speedster added.

Gambhir’s credentials as a former Indian cricketer are impressive. He played a vital role in India’s triumphs at the ICC T20 World Cup 2007 and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, contributing match-winning knocks in the finals.

Gambhir’s appointment comes on the heels of India’s victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, where they defeated South Africa by seven runs to claim their second T20 World Cup title after a 17-year drought.