Gambhir Noncommittal on India Head Coach Appointment

Gautam Gambhir Remains Noncommittal on Potential India Head Coach Appointment

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has declined to comment on his potential appointment as the next head coach of the national cricket team, stating that he does not "see that far ahead."

Gambhir, 42, was speaking at an event organized by the Indian Chambers of Commerce in Kolkata on Friday. Earlier this week, he participated in a virtual interview with the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC). Many believe he is the frontrunner to take over from current head coach Rahul Dravid, whose tenure is set to conclude after the ongoing T20 World Cup.

Despite his recent success as a team mentor, playing a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) third IPL title win, Gambhir refused to be drawn into speculation about his prospects.

"I don't see that far ahead. You are grilling me, asking me all tough questions," Gambhir said, as quoted by PTI. "It is difficult to answer right now. All I can say is that I'm happy being here, just finished a brilliant journey (and) let's enjoy that. I'm in a very happy space right now," he added.

Gambhir's evasiveness has fueled further speculation about his potential appointment. The CAC, comprising former India captain Madan Lal, former India all-rounder Sulakshana Naik, and former India women's captain Shanta Rangaswamy, is expected to make a decision on the next head coach soon.

If appointed, Gambhir would bring a wealth of experience to the role. He played 58 Tests, 147 ODIs, and 37 T20Is for India, scoring over 10,000 international runs. He was also a key member of the 2011 World Cup-winning team.

However, Gambhir has limited coaching experience. He served as a mentor for KKR in the 2022 IPL season, but has not held any other coaching positions.

Tags: #GautamGambhir, #IndiaHeadCoach, #RahulDravid, #BCCI, #CricketAdvisoryCommittee