Gautam Gambhir Visits Tirumala Temple Amidst Cricketing Triumphs and Retirements

Gautam Gambhir, head coach of the Indian cricket team, visited the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala with his family. This visit comes on the heels of India's recent success in the Champions Trophy, where they triumphed over New Zealand. However, the team is also grappling with the retirements of two cricketing giants, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as they prepare for the upcoming World Test Championship series against England. Discover more about Gambhir's visit and the current state of Indian cricket.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 18, 2025, 09:32 IST

Gautam Gambhir's Spiritual Visit

On Sunday, Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, took time off to visit the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, accompanied by his family.

Recent Cricketing Success

In March, Gambhir experienced a significant turnaround in his coaching career after facing criticism due to India's disappointing Test performances. The team overcame challenges to secure the Champions Trophy title in Dubai, remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament.

India showcased their dominance against New Zealand, clinching a four-wicket victory. This marked India's second ICC title within a year, following a thrilling 7-run win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 final under the guidance of former coach Rahul Dravid.

Challenges and Setbacks

The Champions Trophy victory came after a difficult phase for India, which included a failure to qualify for the World Test Championship final. The troubles began with a historic series whitewash by New Zealand, complicating India's path to the WTC final. Following a 3-0 series defeat, India needed to rally in Australia, where they managed a historic win in the first Test in Perth. However, the series concluded with Australia reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 3-1 victory.

Looking ahead, India is set to commence its World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 campaign with a five-match series against England in June.

Retirement of Key Players

As India prepares for the crucial series against England, the team faces the challenge of adjusting to the retirements of two batting legends, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli's retirement announcement shocked the cricket community, marking the end of his illustrious 14-year career, during which he played 123 Tests, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. He ranks as India's fourth-highest run-scorer in Test history.

Rohit Sharma also announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7, concluding an 11-year career with 67 Tests, where he scored 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries.