Sports Desk9 hours ago
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IPL 2024 champion Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir has given an interview for the head coach of Team India. Gambhir met members of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) on Tuesday, ESPN Cricinfo reported. However, according to the report of News 18, former Indian cricketer W.V. Raman also gave an interview and now the foreign candidate will be interviewed tomorrow.
The committee includes former cricketers like Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe and Sulakshan Nayak. It is not yet clear how many applications the BCCI has received for the post. Last date for submission of applications was 27th May. The BCCI has been searching for a coach for the Indian team for a long time, as the tenure of the team’s current head coach Rahul Dravid is coming to an end after the T20 World Cup.
Raman’s interview was impressive, BCCI will interview the foreign candidate tomorrow
Gambhir is the frontrunner to replace Rahul Dravid as head coach but former Indian cricketer W.V. Raman gave a very detailed presentation during his interview. BCCI sources said that Raman’s presentation was very impressive and it is likely that the CAC will interview the foreign candidate on Wednesday.
According to a News 18 report, BCCI officials said that ‘Gambir had a virtual interview but Raman’s presentation was very impressive and detailed. CAC is likely to interview the foreign candidate tomorrow. Gambhir is leading the race but Raman’s performance was perfect.’
Gambhir said – It is an honor to be the coach of Team India
In an event in Abu Dhabi, Gambhir said – I want to become the coach of the Indian team.
Answering a question from a child at a private event held in Abu Dhabi recently, Gambhir said that it is an honor to be the coach of Team India. I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no greater honor than coaching your national team.
He said that when you represent the Indian team, you are in the eyes of more than 140 crore Indians around the world. What can be a bigger moment for someone who will help India win the World Cup, it is 140 crore Indians who will help India win the World Cup. If everyone starts praying for us and we start playing with all our hard work.
Gambhir won 2 World Cups as a player and 2 IPLs as a captain, also lifting trophies as a mentor.
Gambhir, 42, was the mentor of Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022 and 2023. He joined KKR in the 2024 season. Gambhir led the team to the playoffs in the first two seasons of his stay at LSG. At the same time, under Gambhir’s guidance in season 2024, KKR won the title and lifted the IPL trophy.
As a player, Gambhir was part of the Indian team that won the T-20 World Cup in 2007 and the ODI World Cup in 2011. He led KKR for seven IPL seasons from 2011 to 2017. They have also qualified for the playoffs five times. As captain he won two titles in 2012 and 2014. However, he has no coaching experience at international or domestic level. He has been in charge of the coaching staff in two IPL franchises.
Matters related to coaching of Team India
1. Lots of names discussed with Gambhir from IPL
Ever since the IPL, there have been speculations about Gautam Gambhir becoming the coach of the Indian team. Apart from Gambhir, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer and Stephen Fleming were discussed to become the Indian coach. As per BCCI rules, Gambhir has to give up the mentorship of KKR if he becomes the head coach of the team.
2. The tenure of the new coach will be till 2027
The new head coach will be selected during the T-20 World Cup. His tenure will begin from July 1, 2024 and will last until December 31, 2027. Team India has to play 5 ICC tournaments during this period. It includes 2 cycles of World Test Championship along with Champions Trophy, T-20 World Cup and ODI World Cup.
3. Dravid in 2021 Became the head coach
BCCI appointed Rahul Dravid as India’s head coach in November 2021. Before that, Team India was eliminated from the group stage of the T-20 World Cup. The team reached the semi-finals of the 2022 T-20 World Cup. Dravid’s tenure ended after the ODI World Cup in 2023, but his tenure was extended to the T20 World Cup due to Team India reaching the final.
