Gautam Gambhir gets emotional as Rahul Dravid sends special message to new Head Coach ahead of India vs Sri Lanka series

Gautam Gambhir, Team India's new Head Coach, received a special message from Rahul Dravid, whose shoes he's filling in. In this special video message, which appears to be a surprise for Gambhir, Dravid speaks about the glory he enjoyed after India won the T20 World Cup 2024 under his coaching.

‘Crack a smile’

In a video released by the BCCI, Rahul Dravid shared some words of wisdom for Gautam Gambhir, who has taken over the reins as coach and will be put to the test in the first T20 against Sri Lanka today.

“Hello, Gautam, and welcome to the most exciting job in our world as coach of the Indian cricket team… I also wish you that little bit of luck. As you know, that all of us coaches need to make us look a little bit wiser and smarter than we actually are.” Dravid stated in the video

The former head coach added, “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 your refusal to surrender. Across many IPL seasons, I noted your desire to win, your assistance to work with younger players, and your drive to extract the best out of your team on the field,”

Dravid also left his successor with one last piece of advice, suggesting him to take a step back and smile even in the most difficult of steps. He said, "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'm sure you will take the Indian team to even greater heights,"

Gautam Gambhir reacts to Rahul Dravid's farewell message: 

Gambhir stated that it he did not know how to react to the message because it came from someone he has always looked up to and found as the most selfless player. The new head coach stated that there is much to learn from Rahul Dravid and he hopes to make ‘Rahul bhai’ proud.  

"Look, I don't know how to react because this message means so much to me. And the reason is not because it comes from the person who I've succeeded now or taking over from, but from a person who I've always looked up to when I was playing. I've always felt that thing. And I said it in a lot of my interviews. I think the most selfless cricketer I've actually ever played with, Rahul Bhai has done anything and everything what Indian cricket needed. 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. I feel, I think, I don't get too much emotional normally, but I think this message actually made me a lot emotional, which normally I assume, but it's a great message. Hopefully, I can... It's a 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've always looked up to, Rahul Bhai Proud,"