NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly approached Gautam Gambhir, the former left-handed Indian opener as its possible choice to be the next head coach of the India senior men’s team. This follows after BCCI officially opened applications for the position of India men’s head coach with a deadline set for May 27.
The new coach will have an overseeing role in all formats from July 2024 until December 2027. In fact, Dravid took over from Ravi Shastri as head coach after the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2021, and he remained there till Men’s ODI World Cup 2023, where his contract was extended till this year’s Men’s T20 World Cup.
A top source within BCCI told ESPNCricinfo that Gambhir is at the front of their wishlist for someone to take over when Dravid’s term ends at Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 West Indies / USA between June 1-29.
According to the report, Gambhir has been approached by BCCI to assess his interest in taking up this coveted assignment with further discussions expected post KKR’s IPL campaign which concludes this season itself.
“However, one day after IPL final is May 27 -the deadline to apply for the India head coach job; it is learnt that Dravid had already communicated this decision to BCCI” said the statement.
But he has never coached any side either at international or domestic level; however, Saharukh Khan did employ him as mentor during IPL. He was mentor of Lucknow Super Giants franchise during IPLs of both years 2022 and 2023 where they made playoffs on both occasions.
In turn ahead of IPL Twenty20 cricket tournament games in Ahmedabad on Saturday night, Kolkata Knight Riders’ former captain Gambhir put himself into similar shoes again following buttered pep talks he delivered for his Shreyas Iyer captained side that are currently leading the charts with a semis appearance in sight.
As a player, he won India two world titles: Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007 and the 2011 World Cup (ODI).
Gambhir also led KKR to win two IPL editions (2012 and 2014) as well as runners-up spot in now defunct Champions League Twenty20 played that same year. It is this excellent record of success both on the field as well as off it within cricketing world that gives Gambhir an edge over other prospective candidates for job of head coach of Indian team.
IANS had previously reported that big names like Gambhir, Stephen Fleming, Ricky Ponting, Ashish Nehra and Justin Langer have applied to Big Three for their new head coach position after previous post holder Ravi Shastri didn’t extend his contract with BCCI.
Also doing rounds was former cricketer VVS Laxman’s name for coaching Team India but owing to his present role at Bengaluru’s National Cricket Academy (NCA), sources say it is highly unlikely.
