Gambhir Set for Interview as India’s Head Coach Candidate
Former India Test batsman Gautam Gambhir is the only candidate to have applied for the position of head coach for the Indian men’s cricket team. He will appear for an interview before the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) over a Zoom call on Tuesday. The current coach, Rahul Dravid, will see his term end after the ongoing T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had invited applications in mid-May with a deadline set for May 27, the day after the IPL final.
Gambhir’s Credentials
Gambhir is also the mentor of the current IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders. The CAC, which will conduct the interview, comprises former cricketers Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe, and Sulakshana Naik.
Selection for New Selector
In addition to the head coach interview, the CAC will also conduct interviews to find a new selector to replace Salil Ankola. Since both Ankola and chief selector Ajit Agarkar are from the West Zone, the new selector is likely to be from the North Zone, filling the vacant position. Agarkar was appointed in July last year, replacing Chetan Sharma, who stepped down after a sting operation. Ankola was already a selector when Agarkar took over.
CAC’s Recommendations
Following the interviews, the CAC will make recommendations to the BCCI. A BCCI source confirmed, “We are conducting an interview session for candidates for the post of head coach and selector. The CAC will submit its recommendation to the BCCI and the board will make an official announcement thereafter.”
Clarification on Australian Coaches
The BCCI also had to clarify that no former Australian player had been approached for the job, after Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer, both coaches in the IPL, stated they had turned down approaches for the India coach job. BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement, “Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer. The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect.”
Requirements for New Head Coach
The BCCI listed some of the requirements for the new head coach, including the candidate’s willingness to meet work expectations and pressures associated with handling marquee athletes. The new coach should also help in “developing a world-class Indian cricket team which delivers sustained success in all conditions and formats, inspiring current and future generations of cricketers and stakeholders with their approach to the game.”
Term for New Coach
The term for the new coach starts in July 2024 and extends to December 31, 2027 – the year of the next ODI World Cup.(cricket betting sites)