Cricket

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opener, has emerged as a strong contender for the position of head coach of the Indian men's cricket team. With Rahul Dravid's contract expiring after the ongoing T20 World Cup, Gambhir has reportedly applied for the job and presented his demands to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).During his interview with the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), Gambhir laid down five conditions for accepting the role. Firstly, he demanded complete control over the cricketing operations of the team, without any interference from the board. Secondly, he insisted on selecting his own support staff, including batting, fielding, and bowling coaches.Thirdly, Gambhir proposed a bold move to drop four senior players - Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammad Shami - if they fail to help India win the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan. However, it remains unclear whether this would apply to all three formats of the game.Fourthly, Gambhir suggested creating a separate team for Test cricket. Finally, he emphasized the need to start preparing a roadmap for the 2027 ODI World Cup from the outset.Gambhir's conditions have raised questions about the future of the four senior players. Kohli and Sharma have already faced uncertainty over their place in the team, and Gambhir's appointment could further jeopardize their chances of selection.It is also worth noting that India could participate in the World Test Championship final next year. If they fail to win the Test mace, it could lead to the exclusion of some of the senior players from the Test team.

Gautam Gambhir Remains Noncommittal on Potential India Head Coach AppointmentFormer 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.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer, has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Rahul Dravid as the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team. Gambhir has formally applied for the position and attended an interview with the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) on Tuesday.The CAC, comprising former India cricketers Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik, is responsible for shortlisting applicants for the head coach position. The BCCI has not disclosed the number of applications received for the post.Gambhir's application comes after informal discussions with the BCCI during the IPL 2024 season, where he played a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders' third title triumph. He previously served as a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants in the 2022 and 2023 IPL seasons, guiding the team to the playoffs both times.Speaking at an event in Abu Dhabi on June 1, Gambhir expressed his desire to coach India. "There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team," he said. "You are representing 140 crore Indians. And more across the globe as well. And when you represent India, how can it get bigger than that?"Gambhir became the frontrunner for the job after his former India teammate VVS Laxman declined the BCCI's offer to become the head coach. Laxman is currently the director of cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.Dravid, who took over from Ravi Shastri after the T20 World Cup in November 2021, initially signed on for two years until the 2023 ODI World Cup. He later agreed to extend his tenure until the ongoing T20 World Cup.The BCCI has stated that the new head coach will be appointed for a three-and-a-half-year term, from July 2024 to December 2027, and will be responsible for the team in all three formats of the game.

With the tenure of current India head coach Rahul Dravid set to expire after the T20 World Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly identified former batter Gautam Gambhir as the frontrunner to take over the high-profile role.According to sources, Gambhir has emerged as the sole candidate to have applied for the head coach position. The former opening batter is expected to appear for an interview before the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) via Zoom on Tuesday.The BCCI had invited applications for the post in mid-May, with the deadline set for May 27. Gambhir, who is currently the mentor of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), is believed to have given the green light to the board after some of his demands were accepted.The CAC, comprising former cricketers Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe, and Sulakshana Naik, will also conduct interviews for the vacant selector's spot from the North Zone. Currently, chief selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar and Salil Ankola are both from the West Zone, with the new selector from the North Zone set to replace the latter.After conducting the interviews, the CAC will make recommendations to the BCCI regarding the head coach and the new selector's post. The tenure of the new coach, which is likely to be Gambhir, will commence in July 2024 and extend to December 31, 2027, coinciding with the next ODI World Cup.Gambhir's appointment as head coach would mark a significant shift in the BCCI's approach to team management. The former cricketer is known for his aggressive and vocal leadership style, which could bring a fresh perspective to the Indian team.However, Gambhir's lack of experience as a head coach at the international level could be a potential concern. He has previously served as the mentor of KKR and the Delhi Capitals, but his ability to handle the pressures of coaching a national team remains to be seen.

India's head coach Rahul Dravid's future with the national team remains uncertain as his contract expires in June. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Dravid will have to reapply for the position if he wishes to continue beyond the T20 World Cup next month. The new appointment will be for a three-year term.Dravid's initial two-year contract was extended along with his support staff after the 50-overs World Cup last year. However, reports suggest that Dravid is reluctant to extend his stay as head coach beyond June.BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated that the board will invite applications for the head coach position in the coming days. He emphasized that the BCCI is seeking a long-term coach for a three-year period.Shah also addressed the possibility of having different coaches for different formats, but noted that there is no precedent for this in Indian cricket. He added that the decision ultimately rests with the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC).The CAC, comprising Jatin Paranjape, Ashok Malhotra, and Sulakshana Naik, will be responsible for selecting the new head coach. Shah indicated that even a foreign coach could be considered based on the CAC's recommendations.Meanwhile, the BCCI is expected to fill the vacant post of one national selector soon. Shah confirmed that interviews have already taken place and an announcement will be made shortly.Regarding the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairmanship, Shah remained non-committal on whether he would run for the position. He stated that he is focused on his role with the BCCI.

Rahul Dravid's tenure as Team India's head coach is set to expire in June 2023, prompting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to initiate the search for his successor. The appointment of the new coach will be followed by the selection of assistant coaches for batting, bowling, and fielding, as per a report by Cricbuzz.BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed that Dravid's contract ends in June and that he is eligible to reapply if he desires. The new coach's tenure is expected to span three years. Shah emphasized that the decision regarding the nationality of the coach will be made by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), highlighting the BCCI's global outlook.Traditionally, the BCCI has appointed a single coach for all formats of the game. However, Shah indicated that the CAC will determine whether this practice will continue or if separate coaches will be appointed for white-ball and Test cricket.The BCCI's decision-making process will be guided by the CAC, which will evaluate candidates and make recommendations. Shah noted that there is no precedent for such a situation in India, where a head coach's tenure has ended and a new one has been appointed.The BCCI's search for a new head coach is expected to attract a wide range of candidates, both domestic and international. The successful candidate will be tasked with guiding Team India through a challenging period, including the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup in 2023 and the ICC World Test Championship final in 2023.