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Former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper and current Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) coach Andy Flower backed India's decision to appoint Gautam Gambhir as head coach. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ended an extended wait by announcing the same on July 9.
Flower worked with Gambhir for two years in the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) setup in 2022 and 2023. While Flower was the franchise's head coach, Gambhir was the Team mentor.
The side qualified for the playoffs in both seasons before Flower moved to RCB as head coach and Gambhir became the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor.
Speaking on Sony Sports ahead of the India-Zimbabwe third T20I, Flower backed Gambhir to taste success as India's head coach.
"Well, the first thing he’s got to do is just give up his legends cricket at the moment. He’s quite a man Gautam Gambhir, I really enjoyed working with him. He’s got strong opinions, he’s got strong clear views on the game. He’s very decisive, he’s a very proud Indian, he loves Indian cricket and his position, representing Indian cricket. I think it’s a good appointment and I think he’s going to be successful," said Flower.
Gambhir will replace Rahul Dravid after the latter coached India from November 2021.
Dravid's final coaching assignment saw Team India triumph in the recently concluded T20 World Cup.
"Lot of these younger players look upto him and respect him" - Abhinav Mukund
Former Indian batter Abhinav Mukund also hailed the choice of Gautam Gambhir as the head coach, highlighting the youngsters' admiration for him.
Gambhir recently guided KKR to their third IPL title in his first season as Team mentor. The former cricketer also helped India win the 2007 and 2011 T20 and ODI World Cups with crucial knocks in the finale.
"He’s a really good choice for the job. A lot of these younger players look upto him and respect him. He’s very astute on the field we’ve seen him as a captain but now more as a coach brought the team to success after 10 years. I’m sure he will be thinking I want to take this legacy forward. Won a world cup, let’s win a lot more in the next two or three years," said Mukund.
Gambhir also captained KKR to their first two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. His first assignment as Team India coach will be the white-ball tour to Sri Lanka featuring three ODIs and as many T20Is, starting July 27.
