Gautam Gambhir, a former Indian cricketer, is the top choice for the BCCI to become the new head coach of the Indian men’s team once Rahul Dravid’s tenure concludes after the 2024 T20 World Cup in June.
According to ESPNcricinfo, BCCI has approached Gambhir, who is currently mentoring Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, to see if he is interested in the job. Further talks will happen after KKR finishes their IPL 2024 season. Nonetheless, the application deadline for the position of India head coach is May 27, which falls on the day following the IPL final.
It has been reported that Dravid has informed the BCCI that he will not be seeking another tenure. VVS Laxman, expected to take over from Dravid, opted out last year for personal reasons.
Glance at the Gambhir’s Coaching background
Even though Gambhir, aged 42, lacks coaching experience at the international or domestic level, he has led the coaching staff at two IPL teams. He coached Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022 and 2023, guiding them to the playoffs both years. He then moved to KKR for the 2024 season, where they ended the league stage as the top team. Gambhir’s decision to join KKR in IPL 2024 came as a surprise, but reportedly he was convinced to take on the role of team mentor by the franchise’s owner Shah Rukh Khan.
Gambhir played a role in India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign in 2007 and their ODI World Cup win in 2011. Under his leadership, KKR qualified for the playoffs five times and secured two titles in 2012 and 2014 during his seven-season stint as captain from 2011 to 2017. In 2014, they also made it to the final of the now discontinued Champions League T20.
The BCCI recently released a job posting looking for applicants for the role of head coach for the India men’s team. The BCCI announced that the position will cover all three formats for a period of three and a half years, from July 2024 to December 2027.
Dravid started his role as India’s head coach following the 2021 T20 World Cup. His term was initially set to conclude after the 2023 ODI World Cup in November of last year, but he opted to prolong it until the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in West Indies and the USA in June.
