'In Most Heated of Times, Crack a Smile' - Rahul Dravid's Message To New India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir

Add as a preferred source on Google

Former India coach Rahul Dravid welcomed his successor Gautam Gambhir to the "most exciting job" with an advice on how to counter the "most heated of times" as new era is set to begin in Indian cricket from Saturday (July 27).

After Dravid vacated the hot seat following India's triumph in the T20 World Cup Americas last month, Gambhir was appointed as the new coach, who begins his rein from the on-going white-ball tour to Sri Lanka.

In a video posted by BCCI, Dravid delivered a special message for Gambhir via an audio file, noting how he had a dream end to his stint as a coach and wished the former Indian opener to experience the same at the end of his tenure.

"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.

Dravid also jokingly hoped Gambhir will have a fully fit squad and first-choice players available every time, as he himself could not enjoy the same during the T20 World Cup 2022, the World Test Championship final 2023 and the ODI World Cup at home last year.

"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, who has seen Gambhir as a teammate for Team India and sometimes as a rival in the Indian Premier League (IPL), believes the new coach will bring his "resilience and refusal to surrender" and his strong passion for winning to his new job.

"As your teammate, I saw you giving it your all on the field. As your batting partner and fellow fielder, I saw your resilience and refusal to surrender. Across many IPL seasons, I noted your desire to win, your assistance to younger players and your drive to extract the best out of your team on the field.

"I know how dedicated and passionate you are about Indian cricket and I am sure you will bring all these qualities into the new job," Dravid added before concluding with an advice on how to deal with tough times and wished him luck on the job.

"From one Indian cricket coach to another, one last thing. In the most heated of times, exhale, take a step back. I wish you the very best Gautam. I am sure you will take the Indian team to even greater heights," Dravid said.

Reacting to the video message, Gambhir said that he does not know how to react as this message is coming from someone who he looked up to as a player as he called Dravid as the "most selfless player" he has worked with.

"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," he concluded.

Gambhir's first assignment as India head coach will begin on Saturday (July 27) when Suryakumar Yadav-led Men in Blue face Sri Lanka in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele, Sri Lanka.