Newly-appointed coach Gary Kirsten will have his first interaction with the Indian team during the third Test against Pakistan starting in Bangalore on Saturday.

BCCI, on Wednesday, confirmed the appointment of Kirsten as India's coach and said the South African will visit Bangalore to spend a couple of days with the team.

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"Gary will be spending a couple of days with the Indian team at Bangalore during the third Test match," BCCI said in a press release.

Kirsten will formally take over the charge from March next year and has been handed a tenure of two years.

"Kirsten has been appointed as the Coach of the Indian team for a period of two years starting from 1st March, 2008," BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said in the release.

- Gary Kirsten interview

Kirsten will join the Indian team in Australia as consultant.

"Gary will be with the Indian team in Australia as a consultant for a couple of weeks probably after the second test match," the release added.

Kirsten will take over the coaching reins almost a year after Australian Greg Chappell [Images] stepped down following India's disastrous performance in the World Cup.