MS Dhoni next India coach? Gautam Gambhir's role reversal wish after Instagram exchange

Ahmedabad, March 2026 — One week after India’s T20 World Cup triumph on home soil, head coach Gautam Gambhir has hinted at a future he would relish: seeing MS Dhoni take over his job. The suggestion came during a light-hearted reflection on a rare social-media moment between the two former team-mates, who shared a cordial Instagram exchange in the immediate aftermath of the final on 7 March.

Dhoni, making his first post on the platform in nearly two years, congratulated the squad and support staff for “creating history” at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The 2007 World-Cup-winning captain also poked fun at Gambhir’s on-field intensity, writing: “Coach Sahab smile looks great on you, intensity with smile is a killer combo, very well done. Enjoy guys.”

Gambhir, who played under Dhoni’s leadership for much of his international career, replied hours later: “And what a reason to smile, great seeing you!”

Speaking at a RevSportz event on Monday, the 43-year-old coach said he appreciated the gesture and floated the idea of a role reversal. “Good on him to come and watch the World Cup final. Good on him to ask me to smile, and I wish one day he could be in my position (coach), and I can write the same thing, and hopefully, he can smile from the dugout,” Gambhir said.

While Gambhir will take a two-month break from national duties, Dhoni, 44, is set to return to the IPL arena, leading Chennai Super Kings in the 2026 season.

Gambhir also expressed enthusiasm for cricket’s Olympic comeback at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, calling it a “huge honour” to be involved. “Very few get the honour of representing India at the Olympics,” he noted.