Gautam Gambhir's former KKR teammate likely to join India's coaching staff for Sri Lanka series

Written By Chankesh Rao | Updated: Jul 20, 2024, 07:10 PM IST

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Gautam Gambhir has taken over the reins as the Head Coach of Team India, succeeding Rahul Dravid.

The revamped Team India is gearing up to embark on a six-match white-ball series in Sri Lanka. The series is split into two parts, featuring three T20Is and three ODIs to be played in the picturesque island nation. The squads for both series were recently unveiled, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the team in the T20Is and Rohit Sharma resuming his role as India's ODI captain.

Gautam Gambhir has taken over the reins as the Head Coach of Team India, succeeding Rahul Dravid. The former Indian cricketer and two-time World Cup winner will begin his tenure with the upcoming IND vs SL series and will continue to lead the team for the next three years. Under Gambhir's guidance, India is set to compete in five ICC Trophies over the next three years, marking a significant period of transition for the team.

In an interesting development, former Dutch international and Gambhir's ex-Kolkata Knight Riders teammate, Ryan ten Doeschate, is reportedly set to join the Indian team for the Sri Lanka tour. Additionally, Abhishek Nayar, another former KKR support staff member, will also be part of the coaching staff for the tour. Alongside Gambhir, ten Doeschate, and Nayar, T Dilip has been retained as the team's fielding coach, adding further depth and experience to the coaching setup.

The selection of a bowling coach for the team remains uncertain at this time. Gautam Gambhir has expressed strong support for former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel. The BCCI has reached out to the bowling coach of the Lucknow Super Giants, who is currently in Australia, but an agreement has not yet been reached. There is also speculation that highly respected former Australian and NCA coach Troy Cooley may be approached to serve as a temporary bowling coach for the team in Sri Lanka.

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