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.
Praising the highly competitive nature of the recently concluded four-Test series between India and Australia, fit-again batsman Rohit Sharma felt it was the best among the four home rubbers this season.
Australian coach Darren Lehmann has hailed captain Steve Smith as "Bradman-like" after a hard-fought and fiery Test tour against India, while praising the entire "impressive" team.
India's firebrand skipper Virat Kohli may miss the start of the lucrative Indian Premier League T20 tournament as he races against time to recover from a shoulder injury.
Lokesh Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane steered India to an eight-wicket win in the fourth and final Test against Australia as the hosts secured a 2-1 series victory at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Tuesday.
India eked out a handy first innings lead before unleashing their pacemen to trigger an Australian collapse as the home side closed in on a series-clinching victory in the fourth and final test on Monday.
As an opener India's Lokesh Rahul is used to facing hostile spells from new-ball bowlers. But the Australian attack Sunday, he admitted, was the toughest of his career so far.
Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav said it was a dream come true to grab four wickets on debut and spin India right back into the game after Steve Smith hit his third ton of the series on Saturday.
Australia have defied expectations with their fight in India but with all to play for in the final Test in Dharamsala, Steve Smith's team would not leave happy with a drawn series, according to former wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist.
Skipper Virat Kohli's participation in the fourth and deciding Test against Australia here hangs in balance even as young Mumbai batsman Shreyas Iyer has been called as cover.
Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins claimed four wickets to dent India's reply but Cheteshwar Pujara's unbeaten century left the third Test evenly poised in Ranchi on Saturday.