Islamabad:Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir is set to commence his coaching career with the Indian cricket team during the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka. Gambhir will coach the team for three T20Is and three ODIs during the Sri Lanka tour.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the teams for the white-ball tour on Thursday. Shreyas Iyer has been appointed captain for the T20I series, while Rohit Sharma will lead in the ODIs.
Virat Kohli, who is currently on leave in London after winning the T20 World Cup, will return to action during the three-match ODI series. Gambhir, the head coach, insisted on the inclusion of senior players for his debut series.
In the past, there have been disagreements between Kohli and Gambhir, notably during matches between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023, where both cricketers engaged in heated exchanges. However, their relationship saw a thaw during a match in IPL 2024, where Kohli embraced Gambhir, signaling a resolution of past differences.
According to Indian media, following Rahul Dravid’s tenure, Gambhir’s appointment as head coach has been welcomed by Kohli, who assured the BCCI that their professional relationship will not be affected by past disagreements.
It remains clear that the first T20I between Sri Lanka and India will take place on July 27, followed by the second on July 28, and the third T20I match on July 30.
