Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) today (MARCH 9) announced the appointment of former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten as the new head coach of the national men’s team, effective from 15 April, 2026, Cricket Age exclusively learns
Last week, Sanath Jayasuriya tendered his resignation as Head Coach following the team’s disappointing World Cup campaign.
Kirsten’s tenure as India’s head coach (2008–2011) is considered a golden era, marked by transforming the team into a mentally tough, disciplined unit. His primary contributions included leading India to the 2011 World Cup victory, achieving the No. 1 Test ranking, fostering young talent like Virat Kohli, and bridging gaps between senior players. With team India, he was considered an astute mentor who focused heavily on structure and professionalism.
Apart from team India, Kirsten also served as Head Coach for Delhi Daredevils (2014–2015) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (2018–2019).
As a coach, he is highly regarded for emphasizing on developing young talent, mentoring, and bringing a “fresh perspective” to team management.
Kirsten’s Key Contributions and Achievements as team India Coach:
- 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Title: Ended a 28-year wait for the trophy by fostering a winning culture and working behind the scenes to build self-belief.
- No. 1 Test Ranking (2009): Helped India reach the top of the ICC Test rankings for the first time.
- Cultural & Technical Shift: Encouraged a unified, professional training environment, ensuring all players, senior and junior, trained together, ending the divide.
- Mentorship of Youth: Nurtured young talent, including Virat Kohli, to become mainstays in the Indian setup.
- Strategic Team Building: Worked with MS Dhoni to foster a “best thing to happen to Indian cricket” environment, providing crucial support in selection decisions, such as retaining Yuvraj Singh for the 2011 World Cup.
- Key Series Wins: Guided India to Test wins in New Zealand, a series win in Sri Lanka, and a home series victory against Australia.
