Gautam Gambhir Set to Become New Coach of Indian Cricket Team
Gautam Gambhir’s announcement as the new coach of the Indian cricket team is imminent. He is expected to take over after Rahul Dravid steps down following the ongoing T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies. So far, the Indian team has been unbeaten and is continuing its ICC trophy quest in the Super 8s of the tournament.
Gambhir’s Success with KKR
Gambhir recently mentored the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad in the latest IPL season, leading them to their third title with Shreyas Iyer as the team skipper. With Gambhir’s appointment as the head coach, Indian fans can also anticipate Shreyas Iyer’s return to the national team.
Shreyas Iyer’s National Team Return
Iyer last represented India in a three-match ODI series against South Africa following the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he scored a total of 530 runs, becoming the top scorer for the men in blue after Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma. However, he was later removed from the central contract along with Ishan Kishan due to a lack of participation in domestic cricket. Iyer clarified that it was a case of miscommunication and that he missed games due to back issues.
Possible Return in ODI Series Against Sri Lanka
Although India will feature in a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, it is highly unlikely that Iyer will be part of it. He is expected to return in the ODI series against Sri Lanka in late July, according to PTI. Players who performed well in the IPL and are currently training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), such as Abhishek Sharma, Mayank Yadav, and Riyan Parag, are likely to feature in the Zimbabwe series.
Focus on Upcoming Series and Tournaments
One of the BCCI sources revealed that while some players from the NCA camp will be going to Zimbabwe, there is every possibility that Shreyas Iyer will travel for the ODI series against Sri Lanka. The last ODI India played was in South Africa, where Iyer scored a half-century. He had over 500 runs in the World Cup and averages just above 50.
Following the T20 World Cup, India will shift its focus from T20Is to longer formats of the game. Several important series are lined up for the Indian team in the upcoming months, including the thrilling Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which features five tests against Australia in Australia. Additionally, India will be preparing for the ODIs as the coveted ICC Champions Trophy is set to return in early 2025, hosted by the defending champions from 2017, Pakistan.(Dubai7 realmoneygame)