Top 5 youngest head coaches of India senior men's team ft. Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir was announced as the new head coach of the senior India men's team by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on July 9, Tuesday, ending speculations of all sorts.
Gambhir, 42, was the mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders that won the IPL earlier this year, and will be keen on recreating the same success with the Men in Blue when he assumes charge.
He is a rather young coach, and will be keen on bringing on board his ideas and vision about the future of Indian cricket. The former India opener is known for his aggressive ways of going about coaching.
In this listicle, we take a look at the top five youngest coaches of India.
#5 John Wright (46)
Former New Zealand cricketer John Wright, who was one of the best coaches India had, was 46 years old when he was offered the top job in the year 2000.
He served the national team for five years before being replaced by the infamous Greg Chappell, in whose tenure Indian cricket fell to record lows.
Wright formed an excellent partnership with captain Sourav Ganguly, and along with BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, made India a superpower in the cricketing world.
In Wright's tenure, the most spectacular success that India enjoyed was reaching the final of the 2003 World Cup, as well as being crowned joint champions of the 2002 Champions Trophy.
#4 Anil Kumble (46)
Former India captain Anil Kumble, who had a stellar career and was perhaps the greatest leg spinner the country has produced, coached the national team for less than a year between 2016 and 2017.
In his regime, India played an attractive brand of cricket, with skipper Virat Kohli reaching new heights, especially against the red ball.
However, it was often rumoured that Kumble's souring relationship with Kohli ended his time as the national team's coach rather tamely.
Although he was offered an extension by the BCCI, he resigned saying that his differences with the captain were untenable.
#3 Gautam Gambhir (42)
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who was one of the most rock-solid batters of his generation, has been entrusted with the role of the national team's head coach after Rahul Dravid stepped down.
The southpaw is known for his aggressive style and direct approach to most things, especially when he is coaching.
He has already tasted success after having mentored the title-winning Kolkata Knight Riders earlier this year in the IPL and will be excited to take on the big job for the Men in Blue.
#2 Gary Kirsten (41)
Former South Africa opener Gary Kirsten will always be remembered for leading India to their second ODI World Cup win in 2011, sealed by the iconic six MS Dhoni hit off Nuwan Kulasekara in the final against Sri Lanka in Mumbai.
Kirsten was known for bringing in an innovative style of coaching in which he kept both the seniors and juniors in the side on the same page and took inputs from all.
The South African was appointed to the top position in 2008 when he was 41 years old, and etched his name in Indian cricket's history with his achievements.
#1 Sandeep Patil (40)
Former India batter Sandeep Patil, who was a part of the 1983 World Cup-winning side, was appointed the coach of the national team in 1996 when he was forty years old.
Although he did not remain at the post for long, he was instrumental in his coaching career with Kenya, whom he led to the semifinals of the 2003 World Cup.
It is a shame that such a good man manager did not get the opportunity to coach India for a long period and see where destiny took him.
He was preceded by Ajit Wadekar, who coached the side till the 1996 World Cup, and was succeeded by Madan Lal almost immediately.