India head coach Gautam Gambhir has dedicated India’s triumph in the 2026 Men’s World T20 Cup to former coach Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, crediting them for the solid foundation of Indian cricket.
India created history by becoming the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup title and also the first team to win the tournament on home soil. India beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium to lift their third T20 World Cup trophy.
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Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gambhir acknowledged the influence of those who helped build the system that continues to bring success to Indian cricket.
He first dedicated the title to Dravid and praised the former India coach for maintaining the structure and stability of the team during his tenure. Gambhir also highlighted the role played by Laxman, who currently heads BCCI’s center of excellence, highlighting his behind-the-scenes efforts in nurturing talent through the national pipeline.
Gambhir went on to praise Agarkar, India’s chief selector, acknowledging the criticism he often faces despite his determination and integrity in carrying out his duties.
“First of all I want to dedicate this trophy to Rahul bhai (Rahul Dravid) and then to Laxman bhai (VVS Laxman). What Rahul bhai has done to keep Indian cricket in such good shape has been unbelievable and I have to thank him for everything he has done during his tenure,” Gambhir said at the post-match press conference.
“I would also like to thank VVS Laxman for doing so much unconditionally for Indian cricket, especially behind the scenes, as COE remains the oil for Indian cricket. And thirdly, of course, Ajit Agarkar, because he takes a lot of flak despite the honesty and commitment with which he has worked,” he added.
Only Jay Shah called me in difficult times: Gambhir
The India head coach also thanked former BCCI secretary and current International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah for his support during the challenging phases of his tenure.
“And last but not least, I have to thank Jay Bhai (Jay Shah) because not many people actually called me when I was going through the worst moments of my tenure – whether it was after New Zealand or after the series loss in South Africa. The only person who actually called me was Jay Bhai,” the India head coach said.
“I really have to thank him for giving me this job because I remember very clearly that when I got this role, I had no experience of being a head coach of any franchise or any team. Yet he still trusted me with the responsibility. So I have to thank him for that. And I think as long as people like him are there, Indian cricket is in very, very safe hands,” he concluded.
While Gambhir celebrated success in limited-overs cricket, leading India to back-to-back ICC titles with victories in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and 2026 T20 World Cup, the team looked to replicate the same success in Test cricket.
Under his tenure, India failed to qualify for the finals of the ICC World Test Championship in 2025 and he also suffered two home Test series defeats during the year against New Zealand and South Africa. Although Gambhir is expected to remain in charge until at least the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, it remains to be seen how long the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will continue to support him in the Test format.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
09 March 2026 04:00 IST
