Harbhajan Singh Hints at Coaching Team India in Future

Harbhajan Singh, the legendary Indian spinner, has expressed his interest in potentially taking on the role of head coach for Team India in the future. In an interview with ANI, Harbhajan emphasized that coaching the Men in Blue is primarily about managing the team effectively rather than teaching players technical skills.

"Coaching India is about man management, not about teaching players how to drive and pull. They know it very well. You can give some guidance to them," said Harbhajan.

Harbhajan's statement comes amidst the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) inviting applications for the position of men's national team head coach. The tenure for the role will commence on July 1, 2024, and conclude on December 31, 2027, coinciding with the next 50-over Cricket World Cup.

The BCCI has set a deadline of May 27, 6 PM for interested candidates to submit their applications. The selection process will involve a thorough review of applications, followed by personal interviews and assessments of shortlisted candidates.

Harbhajan, who retired from international cricket in 2016, has been involved in coaching roles in the past. He served as the head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a brief period in 2022.

The former spinner acknowledged that he has not yet decided whether to apply for the Team India head coach position. However, he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to give back to the sport that has given him so much.

"Cricket has given me so much and if I get a chance to give it back, I would be more than happy," said Harbhajan.

The BCCI has outlined specific qualifications for potential head coach candidates. Applicants must have played a minimum of 30 Test matches or 50 ODIs, or have served as the head coach of a full member Test-playing nation for at least two years. Alternatively, they must have been the head coach of an Associate member/IPL team or equivalent international league/first-class teams/national A teams for a minimum of three years.

India's current head coach, Rahul Dravid, was given an extension until June 2024 after the team failed to win the ICC Cricket World Cup at home in November 2023. Dravid's tenure will conclude during the ICC T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA, which will take place from June 1 to 29.

Tags: #HarbhajanSingh, #TeamIndia, #HeadCoach, #BCCI, #Cricket