India quest for the next head coach is well underway amidst reports that Rahul Dravid is hesitant to continue in the role. The former Indian captain assumed the position of national coach after Ravi Shastri’s tenure concluded following India’s tumultuous 2021 T20 World Cup journey.
Dravids contract expired post the 2023 ODI World Cup where India emerged as runnersup. Under Rohit Sharmas leadership the Men in Blue advanced undefeated to the final against Australia. Yet they faced a significant stumble losing by six wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Dravid happily extended his tenure with the BCCI following the teams stellar performance in the ODI World Cup. However his term will conclude after the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.
BCCI has even requested applications for Team India’s new head coach, with the deadline being May 27.
1. Gautam Gambhir the frontrunner to take over as new head coach: Reports
According to Cricbuzz, Gautam Gambhir, former India opener and Kolkata Knight Riders trainer, is the favorite to succeed Dravid as India’s head coach. Gambhir’s return to KKR as mentor for the IPL 2024 coincided with the team’s capture of the prized T20 title.
According to the report, even the BCCI is keen on Gautam Gambhir taking on the demanding task and is working hard to persuade him. Interestingly, in a recent interview with Sportskeeda, the KKR mentor revealed that his and the team’s next goal is to become the Kolkata Knight Riders the most successful club in the IPL.
Meanwhile, according to news agency PTI, the BCCI is not in a hurry to appoint the next head coach and is willing to wait even after the May 27 deadline has past. A BCCI insider told PTI on condition of anonymity:
“The deadline is fine, but the BCCI brass wouldn’t mind taking some more time before reaching a decision. Right now, the team will be busy with World T20 for the better part of the month of June. After that, seniors will be rested from tours of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, where any of the NCA-based senior coaches can accompany the team. So what’s the hurry.”
According to the source, NCA head coach VVS Laxman was the BCCI’s first option to replace Dravid, but he declined the position.
2. Sourav Ganguly’s advice to BCCI over choosing head coach
Former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly tweeted on Thursday, May 30, offering some recommendations to the Indian cricket body in terms of picking Dravid’s replacement. Ganguly writes:
“The coach’s significance in one’s life, their guidance, and relentless training shape the future of any person, both on and off the field. So choose the coach and institution wisely.”
Sourav Ganguly
It should be noted that Ganguly did not appreciate his affiliation with one of India’s past coaches, Greg Chappell.
The two got into a heated argument in public. Ironically, Ganguly had submitted Chappell’s name for the position of India’s head coach when John Wright’s contract expired.
3. Virat Kohli’s childhood coach suggests MS Dhoni’s name for new India coach
Rajkumar Sharma, Virat Kohli’s childhood coach, says MS Dhoni would be a fine pick as India’s next coach if he announces his retirement from the IPL and agrees to take up the post.
According to Sharma, Dhoni would be respected in the dressing room because of his exploits and how he managed top players during his time as India captain. Sharma told IndiaNews:
“Dhoni will have more respect in the dressing room and he has played this format for a long time. Being able to plan for the team and manage it properly, is most needed in the team because when Dhoni became the captain, there were big players in that team like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid… Despite this, Dhoni handled the team brilliantly.”
Rajkumar Sharma
Dhoni took part in the IPL 2024, playing for the Chennai Super Kings despite an injury. However, there is no formal confirmation of whether he would retire before the next IPL season.
4. BCCI denies approaching Australian cricketers for coaching role
Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer, two Australian cricket giants, have been mentioned as prospective replacements for Dravid in recent weeks.
In fact, Langer said that he opted not to seek for the role after KL Rahul informed him that managing the Indian team is a thousand times more difficult than running an IPL club.
However, the BCCI denied that Australian players were being contacted for the position of India’s next head coach. According to media reports, BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated that:
“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. Finding the right coach for our national team is a meticulous and thorough process. We are focused on identifying individuals who possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and have risen through the ranks.”
Apart from Langer and Ponting, Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming’s name was also mentioned in media sources. However, he emphasized his hesitation to accept the position if offered.