Gautam Gambhir on coaching India: There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team | Cricket News
While the speculations for Team India’s head coach hot up, former India batter Gautam Gambhir on Sunday expressed his interest in taking over the reins of the national side from Rahul Dravid.
Gambhir, who recently mentored Kolkata Knight Riders to their first Indian Premier League title in 10 years, has been regarded as one of the front-runners for the job after Dravid ends his stint at the end of the T20 World Cup.
The deadline to apply for the head coach’s role was May 27 but it is still not clear if Gambhir has submitted his application.
“I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians and those across the globe as well,” Gambhir said at an event in Abu Dhabi.
When one of the students asked him about coaching the Indian cricket team and helping them win the World Cup with his experience, Gambhir responded, “I have not answered this question, although many people have asked me. But I have to answer you now.
“It is 140 crore Indians who will help India win the World Cup. If everyone starts praying for us and we start playing and representing them, India will win the World Cup. The most important thing is to be fearless,” said Gambhir.
Earlier this week, former India captain Sourav Ganguly had backed Gambhir for the India head coach role, saying “he is a good candidate”.
Gambhir, who retired from international cricket in 2008, was an integral member of the Indian team that won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and the 2011 ODI World Cup.
“A secure dressing room is a happy dressing room, and a happy dressing room ends up in a winning dressing room. The only thing I did in the KKR was following this mantra. With God’s grace it actually worked,” Gambhir added.
With inputs from PTI
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