Gautam Gambhir was namеd thе nеw hеad coach of thе Team India by thе BCCI on Tuеsday, July 9. Hе prеviously mеntorеd thе Kolkata Knight Ridеrs, who won this year’s IPL. Gambhir aims to rеplicatе this succеss with thе Mеn in Bluе. As a rеlativеly young coach, he intеnds to introduce his innovativе ideas and vision for Indian crickеt’s future. Known for his aggrеssivе coaching style, thе formеr India opеnеr brings a dynamic approach to his nеw rolе. In this article, we еxplorе the five youngest head coaches of Team India.
Top 5 Youngest Head Coaches Of Team India
1. Ashok Mankad (35 Years)
Ashok Mankad, a former Indian cricketer, transitioned to coaching after retiring from international cricket. His playing experience and coaching role provided valuable insights and contributions to Indian cricket during a key period of transition and development.
In 1982, four years after retiring, Mankad became the head coach of the Indian cricket team. At 35, he was the youngest head coach in Indian cricket history. His tenure included a tough tour of England in June 1982, where India failed to secure victories in the Test and ODI series, managing to draw only one Test match. The team also struggled in a home Test series against Sri Lanka, failing to win any matches.
Despite challenges and a lack of significant victories, Mankad’s coaching role marked a significant career transition from player to coach at a young age.
2. Sandeep Patil (39 Years)
Sandeep Patil, a former Indian cricketer and member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, had a notable coaching career. His contributions to Indian cricket as both a player and coach have left a lasting impact on the sport in the country.
Patil became the head coach of the Indian cricket team in 1996 at the age of 39. His tenure was brief but noteworthy, as he succeeded Ajit Wadekar and was followed by Madan Lal shortly after the 1996 World Cup.
After his brief stint with India, Patil made a significant impact as the coach of the Kenyan national team. Under his guidance, Kenya achieved a historic milestone by reaching the semifinals of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. This remarkable achievement for an associate nation highlighted Patil’s coaching abilities.
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3. Kapil Dev (40 Years)
Kapil Dev, one of India’s greatest cricketers and the captain who led India to its first World Cup victory in 1983, had a notable but challenging coaching career with the Indian national team. He became India’s head coach in September 1999 at the age of 40. This period coincided with Sachin Tendulkar’s second stint as captain, marking a transitional phase for Indian cricket.
His tenure as head coach lasted less than a year, ending in August 2000. The team’s performance was disappointing, with India winning only one Test match out of eight and nine ODIs out of 25. The solitary Test victory came against New Zealand at home but the team struggled in overseas tours. This included a tough tour of Australia.
Kapil Dev’s tenure as a cricketer and captain was marred by controversies, including match-fixing allegations against several players. These issues overshadowed the team’s performance. The allegations and subsequent investigations created a tumultuous environment, affecting team morale and performance.
Following the match-fixing scandal and the team’s poor performance, Kapil Dev resigned as head coach in August 2000. The period was one of the most challenging times for Indian cricket, with the scandal leading to significant changes in team management and player selection policies.
Despite the difficulties during his coaching tenure, Kapil Dev’s legacy as a cricketer remains untarnished. He is celebrated for his contributions to Indian cricket as a player. Particularly, he is known for leading India to the 1983 World Cup victory. His coaching stint is often viewed in the context of the larger challenges Indian cricket faced during that period. It’s seen less as a reflection of his capabilities as a coach.
4. Gary Kirsten (41 Years)
Gary Kirsten, a former South African batsman, had a highly successful tenure as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. The Board of Control for Cricket in India appointed Gary Kirsten as head coach in December 2007. He officially took over in March 2008 at the age of 41.
Kirsten formed a strong partnership with Indian captain MS Dhoni. Under their leadership, India achieved significant milestones and enjoyed one of its most successful periods in international cricket.
India won a Test series in New Zealand for the first time in 41 years and drew a Test series in South Africa. In December 2009, India reached the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings and held the position for 21 months. The pinnacle of Kirsten’s tenure was India’s victory in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. India won the tournament on home soil, defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
Gary Kirsten transformed the Indian team into a dominant force in world cricket. His contributions laid the foundation for continued success in various formats of the game. Kirsten’s tenure as India’s head coach marked an era of strategic brilliance, team unity, and historic victories, making him one of the most respected and celebrated coaches in Indian cricket history.
5. Gautam Gambhir (42 Years)
Gautam Gambhir played a crucial role in India’s victories at the 2007 and 2011 World Cups. As the team’s leader, he guided the powerhouse Indian team, KKR, to the IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, securing a third in 2024. His exceptional performances in major tournaments earned him the position of the Indian cricket team’s coach after their win in the 2024 T20 World Cup. At the age of 42, Gambhir became one of the youngest head coaches of Team India. He succeeded Rahul Dravid in this esteemed position.
During his career, Gautam Gambhir scored 4,154 runs in 58 Tests at an average of 41.95, including 9 centuries and 22 fifties. In ODI matches, he amassed 5,238 runs in 147 games with an average of 39.68, including 11 centuries and 34 fifties.
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