Gautam Gambhir
Former India batter Gautam Gambhir is on top of the BCCI’s wishlist to take up the position of India men’s head coach after Rahul Dravid’s term ends at the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup in June.
ESPNcricinfo has learned Gambhir, who is currently the mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, has been contacted by the BCCI to gauge his interest in the job, and further discussions are expected after KKR complete their IPL 2024 campaign. However, the deadline for applying for the India head coach job is May 27, a day after the IPL final.
Dravid, it is learnt, has communicated to the BCCI his decision not to seek another tenure. VVS Laxman, who had been expected to succeed Dravid, had made himself unavailable last year due to personal reasons.
While Gautam Gambhir, 42, has no experience of coaching at international or domestic level, he has been in charge of the coaching staff at two IPL franchises. He was the mentor at Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022 and 2023 – they qualified for the playoffs in both seasons – before joining KKR for the 2024 season, where they will finish the league stage on top of the points table. Gambhir’s move to KKR for IPL 2024 was unexpected but it is learned he was persuaded to become the team’s mentor by the franchise’s principal owner Shah Rukh Khan.
Gautam Gambhir was part of India’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2007 and the ODI World Cup victory in 2011. He captained KKR for seven IPL seasons from 2011 to 2017, and they qualified for the playoffs five times and won two titles in 2012 and 2014 under his leadership. They also reached the final of the defunct Champions League T20 in 2014.
Last week, the BCCI posted an advertisement seeking applications for the position of India men’s head coach. The job, the BCCI said, would be for all three formats for a duration of three and a half years starting from July 2024 until December 2027.
Dravid had begun his two-year term as India’s head coach after the 2021 T20 World Cup. His stint was supposed to end after the 2023 ODI World Cup in November last year, but he agreed to an extension until the end of the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will be played in West Indies and the USA in June.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approached former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir to become the head coach of the Indian cricket team, replacing Rahul Dravid. This move comes as part of the BCCI’s strategy to revamp the coaching staff ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup in June. Gambhir, known for his aggressive batting style and cricketing acumen, is considered a top candidate due to his successful stint as a player and his experience in coaching roles, including his involvement with the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Gambhir’s potential appointment is aimed at bringing fresh strategies and perspectives to the team. However, there are some concerns and discussions about this transition, particularly regarding Gambhir’s availability and commitment to this high-profile role
The discussion about India’s next men’s head coach has been ongoing since the BCCI announced on May 13 that it was accepting applications to replace Rahul Dravid, with a deadline of May 27. Recent reports suggested that Gautam Gambhir and Mahela Jayawardene were potential candidates for the role, set to begin on July 1, 2024, and run until December 31, 2027. However, reliable sources have confirmed that Jayawardene, former Sri Lankan captain and current global head of performance for the Mumbai Indians, neither applied nor was approached for the position. Jayawardene, who led Mumbai Indians to three IPL titles, is content with his current role, overseeing coaching and scouting for MI franchises in various T20 leagues like SA20 and ILT20.
Additionally, former Australian head coach Justin Langer was rumored to be in contention. However, Langer has publicly declined the opportunity following his IPL 2024 stint with Lucknow Super Giants. Langer emphasized the challenges and expectations associated with coaching the Indian team, highlighting the need for the right timing and the extensive commitment required.
