Through three World Cup titles, two World Test Championship (WTC) finals, and a 12-year Test series winning streak on home soil, Kohli and Sharma, often together, have been integral to every major Indian success of the last 17 years.
Due to their soured political relations, India have not visited Pakistan since 2008 and the rivals play each other only at multi-team events.
India has appointed former South Africa Test fast bowler Morne Morkel as its bowling coach, the country's cricket board said Wednesday.
The Mumbai-born cricketer played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India between 1975 and 1987, before becoming a selector, and later, the coach of the national team. Gaekwad was the coach of the Indian team that finished runners-up at the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy.
A packed calendar across formats awaits Gambhir and the Indian team.
"It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr Gautam Gambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team," Jay Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.
"I'll sign the petition for Jasprit Bumrah to be the eighth wonder of the world right now. He is a once-in-a-generation bowler," Kohli said.
It was not clear when the Indian team would arrive home, with Indian media on Monday reporting they were stuck in Barbados, delayed by Hurricane Beryl.
It was India's first global title since winning the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Ex-Indian test captain Ravi Shastri has been named India's team director for the upcoming tour to Bangladesh starting on June 10.
With another grueling season awaiting India, starting with a tour to Bangladesh next month and culminating with the World Twenty20 in 2016, there has been no official word on Duncan Fletcher's successor.