Gautam Gambhir Pushes For This Former MI Player as Assistant Coach for Team India: Report

Gautam Gambhir is reportedly viewed as a strong contender for the Team India head coach role once Rahul Dravid decides to move on, and wants a former Mumbai Indians player as his assistant coach. Under Dravid, the Indian cricket team made the most of their moment by winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, ending an 11-year drought of an ICC trophy for the Men in Blue. So Dravid’s coaching stint ended on a positive note as his leadership qualities and experience had shown.

A report in Bengali newspaper Aajkal has mentioned that Gambhir is keen to have Abhishek Nayar, currently his assistant coach in the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, as the assistant coach for the national team. The reports also said that Gambhir and Nayar have already agreed to this proposed pairing verbally. Gambhir wants Nayar to join his coaching staff if he becomes the head coach. Nayar is an ODI player for India and also a director at the KKR academy.

Though he played a crucial role as team mentor in KKR’s IPL title triumph, Gambhir had been non-committal when asked about his chances of becoming coach of the national team recently. “I don’t think that far ahead. You’re really putting me on the spot with these tough questions,” he said. “It’s hard to say at this point of time in my life. All I can say is I am content at the place I am, just finished a great journey once again. Let’s just enjoy that. I’m at a very happy place,” Gambhir added.