New Delhi. The last date to apply for the post of Indian cricket team head coach ended on Monday. Gautam Gambhir is said to be a strong contender for the post. But neither Gambhir nor BCCI said anything about this. The board and Gautam Gambhir have maintained silence on this. Current coach Rahul Dravid’s tenure ends after the T20 World Cup. The T20 World Cup will be played from June 1 to June 29 in West Indies and America.
Gambhir’s claim to give Kolkata Knight Riders a third IPL title has become stronger. Both parties have not said anything about this. It seems that BCCI does not have a very strong option. It is believed that no big foreign name has expressed interest in becoming the coach. Board secretary Jai Shah has also said that they are looking for a candidate who is well-versed with the local structure of Indian cricket. BCCI had their eyes on VVS Laxman but the stylish former Hyderabad cricketer does not seem to be interested in a full-time position. Laxman is currently the head of NCA (National Cricket Academy).
A board source said, ‘The time limit is fine but the board may take some more time before taking a decision. Currently, the team is busy preparing for the T20 World Cup. After this, the senior players will be rested on the tour to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and the NCA senior coach will be able to accompany the team. In such a situation, what’s the rush?
KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan has a very close relationship with Gambhir, so it will not be easy for him to leave the IPL team. Another aspect is that the opinion of senior Indian players present in New York about the possibility of Gambhir becoming the coach cannot be ignored. (Input PTI)
Tags: Gautam Gambhir, IPL 2024, Team India
First published: May 28, 2024, 06:57 IST