Cricket

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.

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir is poised to become the next head coach of the Indian men's cricket team. Gambhir is set to interview for the position in Mumbai on May 29th with BCCI secretary Jay Shah and other officials.Sources close to the BCCI have indicated that Gambhir is the frontrunner for the role and that the BCCI has agreed to his terms for the position. These terms include full command over the team and the establishment of separate teams for white-ball and red-ball cricket.Gambhir's appointment would mark a significant shift in the BCCI's approach to coaching. Under current head coach Rahul Dravid, the team has struggled to maintain consistency across formats. Gambhir's proposal for separate teams aims to address this issue by allowing for specialized coaching and player development.Gambhir's credentials as a player and his experience as a commentator and analyst make him a strong candidate for the role. He was a key member of India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup winning teams. He has also been vocal about his desire to coach the national team, stating that "there is no bigger honour than coaching your national team."The BCCI's decision to appoint Gambhir as head coach is expected to be announced shortly after the interview. If appointed, Gambhir will take over the reins of the team from July 2024, with his contract extending until December 2027.

Kolkata Knight Riders' triumph in the IPL 2024 season has been attributed to the astute guidance of mentor Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir, a former KKR captain who led the team to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, returned to the franchise as a mentor ahead of the 2024 season. His partnership with head coach Chandrakant Pandit proved to be a winning formula.KKR fast bowler Harshit Rana recently defended Gambhir's role in the team's success, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to the franchise. Rana highlighted that Gambhir had sacrificed his political career to focus solely on KKR's victory."Gambhir Bhaiya left his political career and everything behind for KKR. He left politics and came back to KKR, and he worked day and night hard just to make KKR win the trophy. He is so involved in KKR. I am genuinely telling you that he did his best to win this trophy. He left everything just to win the KKR trophy. So, sir, why shouldn't he get this honour?" Rana said in an interview with Shubhankar Mishra on YouTube.Gambhir's influence extends beyond the KKR dressing room. He is reportedly the frontrunner to succeed Rahul Dravid as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Dravid's tenure will conclude after the T20 World Cup 2024, and media reports suggest that Gambhir has agreed to take over the role after the BCCI accommodated his requests."We have held talks with Gambhir to become the head coach of the Indian team. He will replace the outgoing Rahul Dravid after the T20 World Cup," a BCCI source told Dainik Bhaskar.KKR's success in IPL 2024 was built on a strong foundation in the league stage, where they topped the standings. They capped off their impressive campaign with a victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.

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.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opening batsman, is poised to take over as the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team. Gambhir's appointment has been in the works for months, with current coach Rahul Dravid's contract expiring after the ongoing T20 World Cup.According to a report in Dainik Bhaskar, Gambhir's appointment will be made official by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in the coming days. Gambhir reportedly accepted the offer after being approached by the BCCI, but not before laying down certain demands that were accepted by the board."We have held talks with Gambhir to become the head coach of the Indian team. He will replace the outgoing Rahul Dravid after the T20 World Cup," a BCCI source told Dainik Bhaskar.The report also states that Gambhir informed the BCCI that he would only accept the job if he had the authority to select his support staff. This demand was met, and the board is expected to formally announce Gambhir's appointment as head coach later this month.Under Gambhir's guidance, the Kolkata Knight Riders won the Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2024. His leadership at KKR has been widely praised, contributing to his growing reputation as a top coaching candidate.During a recent event, Gambhir expressed his desire to coach the Indian team. "There is no bigger honor than coaching the national team," he said. "You are representing 140 crore Indians and those across the globe as well."Gambhir was a member of India's T20 World Cup-winning team in 2007 and the 2011 ODI World Cup side. He is expected to make changes to both the support staff and the team itself.

Gautam Gambhir Emerges as Frontrunner for Indian Cricket Team Head Coach RoleFormer Indian cricket captain Gautam Gambhir has emerged as a leading contender for the position of head coach of the Indian cricket team, according to media reports. Gambhir's successful tenure as mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders, who won the IPL 2024 title under his guidance, has reportedly caught the attention of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).Former India head coach Anil Kumble has praised Gambhir's credentials but cautioned that coaching the national side presents unique challenges. "You need somebody with a strong demeanor and continuity," Kumble told ESPNCricinfo. "Rahul [Dravid] has done a fantastic job, and hopefully, he has a swansong with the World Cup. But you also have to consider that some senior players are nearing the end of their careers."Kumble emphasized the need for a smooth transition and continuity in the team. "You need players who can go through the transition period and ensure India doesn't miss out on quality in the bowling and batting departments," he said. "You pick and choose and transition through."Despite Gambhir's familiarity with many senior players in the Indian team, Kumble believes that this factor will not be a major consideration. "Today, you have been a part of the system in some form or the other," Kumble said. "It doesn't matter that much. What you look at is the candidature and not whether this particular coach has a background of playing with the players."Kumble stressed the importance of choosing a candidate with the right stature and credibility to handle the demands of the role. "Someone who is not afraid to take those calls," he said.Gambhir's potential appointment as head coach would mark a significant shift in the team's leadership. His aggressive and vocal style as a player could bring a fresh perspective to the team's approach. However, he would also face the challenge of managing a diverse group of players and navigating the pressures of international cricket.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opener and mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders, has expressed his disapproval of the practice of rejecting players solely based on their fitness test scores. He believes that fitness should be a consideration, but not the sole determinant of a player's selection.Gambhir argues that fitness should be assessed by trainers, who can determine whether a player is physically capable of performing at the required level. He emphasizes that players should be selected based on their batting and bowling skills, and that it is the trainer's responsibility to improve their fitness."Fitness should be a factor, but I also do not agree that we have to pass a fitness test to be called fit. I don't agree to that. Fitness should directly be related to the trainer. If a trainer feels that you're fit enough, some people are physically strong from a point of view that they can lift a lot of weights in the gym," Gambhir said.He further adds, "But if you don't select someone just because of a yo-yo test, I don't think that's the right way. You select players on their talent, on their battling skills, on their bowling skills. And it is the trainer's job to keep working on their fitness and keep making them better physically as well. Just because someone doesn't pass a yo-yo test and doesn't get selected, I think that is a bit unfair."Gambhir's comments come amidst speculation that he is a leading candidate to replace Rahul Dravid as the head coach of the Indian team after the T20 World Cup. Dravid has previously stated that the T20 World Cup will be his last assignment with the Indian team.Gambhir has expressed his desire to coach the Indian team, saying, "I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians and those across the globe as well."Gambhir was a key member of the Indian team that won the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup. He is known for his aggressive batting style and his leadership skills.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opening batsman, has expressed his views on the yo-yo test, a fitness assessment used to gauge the physical fitness of cricket players. Gambhir believes that while fitness is important, it should not be the sole criterion for player selection.During a recent interaction with Sportskeeda, Gambhir stated that fitness should be a factor, but players should primarily be judged based on their skills. He emphasized that the yo-yo test may not accurately reflect a player's overall fitness and that it is unfair to drop or ignore players solely based on their performance in the test."Fitness should be a factor, but I also do not agree that we have to pass a fitness test to be called fit. I don't agree to that. Fitness should directly be related to the trainer. If a trainer feels that you're fit enough, some people are physically strong from a point of view that they can lift a lot of weights in the gym," Gambhir said.He added, "But if you don't select someone just because of a yo-yo test, I don't think that's the right way. You select players on their talent, on their battling skills, on their bowling skills. And it is the trainer's job to keep working on their fitness and keep making them better physically as well. Just because someone doesn't pass a yo-yo test and doesn't get selected, I think that is a bit unfair."Gambhir's comments come amid speculation that he may be in contention for the role of head coach of the Indian cricket team. The current coach, Rahul Dravid, is set to step down after the ongoing T20 World Cup.Gambhir has expressed his desire to coach the Indian team, stating that it would be a great honor. He was a key member of the Indian team that won the 2007 World T20 and the 2011 ODI World Cup.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer known for his serious demeanor, has often been stereotyped as a strict disciplinarian. However, beneath his stern exterior lies a complex and multifaceted individual.As a cricketer, Gambhir held his own in an illustrious Indian batting lineup that included legends like Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and V.V.S. Laxman. Despite not possessing the flamboyant style of some of his teammates, Gambhir was a reliable and effective batsman, averaging 41.95 in Tests and 39.68 in ODIs. His contributions were crucial in India's victories in the 2007 ICC World T20 and the 2011 World Cup.However, it is Gambhir's fiery temperament that has often overshadowed his cricketing achievements. His on-field altercations with fellow Delhi player Virat Kohli are well-documented. Like former Australian captain Steve Waugh, Gambhir found solace in anger, using it as a tool to unleash his inner gladiator.Off the field, Gambhir has been equally outspoken. His involvement in political debates and his public spats with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have raised eyebrows. Yet, beneath this tough exterior, there is a softer side to Gambhir. He has always been known for his loyalty and his willingness to mentor young players.As a coach, Gambhir has guided Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to three IPL titles, including the most recent one in 2023. His ability to motivate and inspire his team has earned him respect and admiration.Despite his success as a player and coach, Gambhir's name is often mentioned as a potential successor to Rahul Dravid as the Indian team's coach. However, his fiery nature and tendency to speak his mind may raise concerns among some.Ultimately, Gautam Gambhir is a complex and enigmatic figure. He is a fierce competitor on the field, but also a compassionate and loyal individual off it. His journey from a serious first-bencher to a successful player and coach is a testament to his resilience and determination.