The series against Sri Lanka comprises three T20Is and three ODIs, with Shubman Gill serving as vice-captain to Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is and Rohit Sharma in ODIs.
In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rahul Dravid reflected on his time as the head coach and offered encouragement to Gautam Gambhir.
“Passing on the baton with class and grace! To Gautam Gambhir, From Rahul Dravid #TeamIndia | #SLvIND | @GautamGambhir,” tweeted BCCI.
Dravid humorously noted that he hopes Gambhir will have the luxury of a fully fit squad, something Dravid lacked during his tenure in key tournaments like the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and the ICC World Test Championship final 2023. He described being the head coach of the Indian team as the “most exciting job.”
“Hello, Gautam, and welcome to the most exciting job in our world as coach of the Indian cricket team. It’s been three weeks since I ended my stint with the Indian team in a manner that was beyond my dreams. Both in Barbados and then a few days later in that unforgettable evening in Mumbai. More than anything else, I will treasure the memories and friendships I made in my time with the squad. As you take over the role of India coach, it is what I wish for you as well,” said Dravid.
“I also hope that you will have the availability of fully fit players in every squad. Good luck with that. I also wish you a little bit of luck, as you know that all of us coaches need to make us look that little bit wiser and smarter than we actually are,” he added.
Dravid praised Gambhir’s resilience, refusal to surrender, and strong passion for winning. He recounted witnessing these qualities both as a teammate for Team India and as a rival in the Indian Premier League. He lauded Gambhir’s ability to work with younger players and bring out the best in them.
“I know how dedicated and passionate you are about Indian cricket and I’m sure you will bring all these qualities into this new job,” Dravid added.
Dravid also advised Gambhir to maintain his composure under pressure and highlighted the importance of support from players, staff, and fans.
“From one Indian cricket coach to another, one last thing. In the most heated of times, exhale, take a step back and even if it’s difficult for you, crack a smile. Whatever else happens, that will shock people. I wish you the very best Gautam and I am sure you will take the Indian team to even greater heights,” Dravid concluded.
Gambhir responded to the video by expressing deep admiration for Dravid and acknowledged the emotional impact of the message. He described Dravid as the “most selfless player” he has worked with and committed to approaching his new role with honesty and transparency.
“Rahul Bhai has done anything and everything that Indian cricket needs. So I think there is so much to learn from, not only for me, but for the next generation and for the current generation as well, that how important Indian cricket is. Not me, not individuals, but what Indian cricket is. And I feel, I think, I do not get too much emotional normally, but I think this message actually made me a lot emotional, which normally I shouldn’t, but it is a great message. Hopefully, I can, these are massive shoes to fill. Hopefully, I can do it with absolute honesty, transparency, and hopefully I can make the entire nation and more importantly the person who I have always looked up to, Rahul Bhai, proud,” Gambhir concluded.
As Gambhir begins his journey as head coach, the cricketing world will be keenly observing how he leads Team India through this new chapter.