Indian cricket has seen numerous head coaches who were once great players for the Men in Blue. World Cup winners like Sandeep Patil, Madan Lal, and spin ace Bishan Singh Bedi have all had head coaching roles in Indian cricket.
The most recent addition to this illustrious list is Gautam Gambhir, a winner of the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2007 T20 World Cup. The left-handed stalwart takes over from Rahul Dravid, whose tenure ended following the 2024 T20 World Cup, which India clinched.
On July 9, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced the news, stating:
“It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr @GautamGambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Modern-day cricket has evolved rapidly, and Gautam has witnessed this changing landscape up close. Having endured the grind and excelled in various roles throughout his career, I am confident that Gautam is the ideal person to steer Indian Cricket forward.”
Gambhir had a stellar international career, amassing over 10,000 runs, including 20 centuries. However, he’s not the only one with a notable cricketing background to have taken on the head coach role.
Five Notable Indian Men’s Head Coaches with Stellar Playing Careers
#5 Chandu Borde
Former Indian player Chandu Borde debuted against the West Indies on November 28, 1958. He played 55 Tests, amassing 3,061 runs at an average of 35.59, with five centuries and 18 fifties. In 1988, he became the coach of an Indian team featuring stars like Dilip Vengsarkar, Kapil Dev, and Ravi Shastri.
#4 Ravi Shastri
The Indian all-rounder was part of the winning teams in the 1983 World Cup and the 1985 World Championship of Cricket. In 80 Tests, Shastri scored 3,830 runs and played 150 ODIs, amassing over 3,000 runs with four centuries. He also took more than 250 wickets in international cricket.
From 2017 to 2021, Shastri coached the Indian men’s team, leading them to the World Test Championship final and two Border-Gavaskar Trophy wins in Australia. India also reached the semi-final of the 2019 ODI World Cup under his guidance.
#3 Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble, the most successful bowler in Indian cricket history, played 132 Tests, taking 619 wickets, the fourth-highest in Test cricket. He also claimed 35 fifers and eight 10-wicket hauls in Test matches. In ODIs, he played 271 games and took 337 wickets.
Kumble coached India from 2016-2017, during which the team defeated England and Australia in home Test series and reached the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy.
#2 Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev led India to their first-ever World Cup win in 1983. The greatest all-rounder in Indian cricket played 131 Tests, scoring 5,248 runs, and 225 ODIs, amassing 3,500 runs. He is still the leading wicket-taker for India in Test cricket with 434 wickets.
Kapil served as the head coach for ten months from October 1999 to August 2000.
#1 Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid, one of the greatest batters in Indian cricket history, played 164 Tests, scoring 13,288 runs at an average of 52.31 with 36 centuries and five double-centuries. In 344 ODIs, he scored 10,889 runs with 83 fifties and 12 centuries.
Dravid coached India from 2021-2024, leading the team to the finals of the 2023 World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup. His tenure ended on a high with India winning the 2024 T20 World Cup.
These coaches, with their stellar playing careers and significant contributions as head coaches, have left indelible marks on Indian cricket. Gautam Gambhir now steps into this prestigious role, bringing his own experiences and insights to guide the Men in Blue.
