Head coach Gautam Gambhir's approach of high risk, high reward paid off as India clinched their third T20 World Cup title on Sunday (March 8) by beating New Zealand in the final at Ahmedabad.

With this triumph, Gambhir became the first Indian coach to win two ICC titles, having secured the Champions Trophy last year. He also guided the team to Asia Cup triumph in 2025.

After rewriting history, Gambhir admitted that he was not even ready when former BCCI secretary Jay Shah offered him the Indian men’s cricket team head coach role following the end of Rahul Dravid’s tenure in 2024. However, Shah’s trust persuaded him to take up the job.

Gambhir took over the reins despite having no prior coaching experience. The only experience on his resume was a three-year mentorship stint in the Indian Premier League.

Gambhir began with Lucknow Super Giants, guiding the team to the playoffs in the 2022 and 2023 IPL seasons. The following year, he moved to Kolkata Knight Riders, helping the franchise win its third IPL title.

“I remember we were playing an IPL game in Mumbai. KKR vs Mumbai Indians, and we were staying at St Regis, and it was Jay Bhai (Jay Shah) who called me. He called me early in the morning and said, ‘I have to give you this offer, and you can’t say no to me.’ I said, ‘What?’ and he said, ‘You have to be the head coach,’ and at that time, honestly, I wasn’t even ready," Gambhir said.

“It was a massive surprise because, for me, I think being the head coach of the Indian team is an honour. It’s a privilege because not many people get that opportunity to again go back in the dressing room and wear that India jersey again and do something special for the country."

“Tell me how many ex-cricketers get that? Very few, and then he told me you can’t say no, and then obviously I spoke to family; I spoke to Natasha (Gambhir’s wife), but hats off to him (Jay Shah). I have to thank him. I thanked him even during the press conference," he added.

“I very well realise that when I was offered this job, I had no experience of being a head coach because I’ve never been a head coach of any team or any franchise. I was always the mentor, but trusting me with that job and that high-pressure job and that high-profile job. So hopefully till now I think I’m able to live up to his expectations, and I can’t thank him enough," he further remarked.

While Gambhir has achieved unprecedented success in white-ball cricket, India’s Test graph has gone down during his tenure. The team has won seven, lost 10 and drew two of its 19 Tests so far, which includes a couple of clean sweeps against New Zealand (0-3) and South Africa (0-2) at home.

Gautam Gambhir recalled receiving call from Jay Shah after embarrassing setbacks in home Test series.

“I remember I’ve gone through a lot of low moments in my tenure as well, which was always expected. Whether it was getting beaten by New Zealand at home or getting beaten by South Africa at home, which I normally don’t forget and I don’t think it will be difficult for me to forget. Not many people actually called me after that. I remember the only time someone called me was Jay Shah. Because I remember when we lost a game against New Zealand at Mumbai, I was going back to the airport, and I got a call from him, and obviously he told me to stay strong. He told me that he’s there with me during that hour, and then even after South Africa he was the one who called me. I was at the airport, and I was actually very low and down," Gambhir said.

“You don’t remember when your things are going good, but when you’re going through a tough phase at that time, if someone calls you and supports you at that time, I think that is something that I will always appreciate even when I won’t be the head coach of the team," he stated.