New Delhi: The cricketing world is abuzz as Gautam Gambhir, a prominent figure in Indian cricket, has officially thrown his hat into the ring to become the next head coach of Team India.
On Tuesday, Gambhir, a former star batsman and celebrated leader, attended an interview with the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) to discuss his vision and qualifications for this coveted position.
Gambhir's candidacy follows his enthusiastic remarks at an event in Abu Dhabi on June 1, where he voiced his ambition to guide the national team. "There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team," Gambhir said passionately. "You are representing 140 crore Indians and more across the globe. When you represent India, how can it get bigger than that?"
The CAC, comprised of former Indian cricketers Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik, conducted the first round of discussions with Gambhir, who has emerged as a leading contender following VVS Laxman's decision to focus on his role as the director of cricket at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not disclosed the total number of applicants for the head coach position, the interest is believed to be significant given the role's importance. The BCCI set a deadline of May 27 for applications and had already engaged in preliminary talks with Gambhir during the IPL 2024.
Gambhir's credentials are impressive. He played a big role in leading the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title as a mentor after rejoining the franchise in November 2023. This success followed his earlier achievements as a mentor for the Lucknow Super Giants, where he guided the team to playoff berths in both the 2022 and 2023 IPL seasons.
This potential transition in leadership comes at a crucial time for Indian cricket. Rahul Dravid, who took over from Ravi Shastri as head coach after the T20 World Cup in November 2021, has extended his tenure through the ongoing T20 World Cup. The incoming head coach, set to serve from July 2024 to December 2027, will be tasked with continuing India's legacy of excellence in all formats of the game.
Some reports state that Gambhir has put forward a few demands to the BCCI for the head coach position, including full command of the team and separate teams for white-ball and red-ball, which the apex cricket board has agreed to.
As the selection process continues, the cricket community eagerly awaits the BCCI's final decision, hopeful that the new head coach will steer Team India to even greater heights on the international stage.