India’s head coach and former BJP Member of Parliament Gautam Gambhir has received a threatening email allegedly linked to the Islamic State (ISIS), prompting the Delhi Police to initiate an investigation into the matter.
According to officials, the email carried the subject line ‘ISIS’ and contained a chilling message with only three words: “I kill you.” The former cricketer has filed a formal complaint, following which the Delhi Police’s cyber crime unit has begun efforts to trace the sender and determine the origin of the threat.
Gambhir, who has been an outspoken critic of terrorism, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the Pahalgam attack. “Praying for the families of the deceased. Those responsible for this will pay. India will strike,” he posted.
This is not the first time Gambhir has been targeted. In 2021, he reportedly received a similar threat from a group identifying itself as ISIS Kashmir.
The 42-year-old coach recently returned from a family trip to France and has largely stayed away from the spotlight after guiding India to a victory in the Champions Trophy earlier this year. The ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season has allowed him some time off, in line with the routine of national coaching staff during domestic tournaments.
Gambhir took charge of the Indian national team in July last year, succeeding Rahul Dravid. His tenure began under intense scrutiny, marked by a string of defeats, including a whitewash at home against New Zealand and a series loss in Australia. However, the recent Champions Trophy triumph brought much-needed relief to the coaching setup.
Police officials have not disclosed further details, citing the sensitivity of the case, but confirmed that all necessary security arrangements are in place for Gambhir and his family.
