Cricket

The Indian cricket team is currently without a permanent head coach following the conclusion of Rahul Dravid's tenure after the T20 World Cup 2024. A second-string Indian team is currently touring Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series under the temporary guidance of VVS Laxman, the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA).The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already interviewed two candidates for the head coach position: Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman. Gambhir is widely expected to be appointed to the role, but the official announcement has been delayed due to ongoing salary negotiations between him and the board.BCCI secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that the new coach will take charge from the upcoming Sri Lanka series onwards. The Indian team is scheduled to tour Sri Lanka for three T20Is and as many ODIs starting July 27.Alongside Dravid, the coaching stints of his staff, including batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip, have also ended. Once Gambhir's appointment is official, the board will begin the process of hiring other coaches.It is reported that the BCCI plans to give Gambhir complete freedom in selecting his support staff. A batting coach may not even be hired, as Gambhir himself was a top-level opening batter during his playing days.Shah stated, "Both coach and selector appointments will be made shortly. CAC has interviewed and shortlisted two names and after reaching Mumbai whatever they have decided we will go by that. VVS Laxman is going to Zimbabwe but new coach will join from Sri Lanka series."The Indian team's performance under Dravid has been mixed. They won the Asia Cup in 2022 but failed to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. Gambhir, if appointed, will be tasked with improving the team's consistency and preparing them for the upcoming ODI World Cup in 2023.

Rahul Dravid's tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team will conclude after the T20 World Cup 2024, prompting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to initiate the search for his successor. While Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman have emerged as potential candidates, the absence of Dravid's reapplication has raised questions.BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has shed light on Dravid's decision, revealing that the board respected his desire to prioritize family commitments. "He told me that due to family commitments he wants to quit and we respect his decision. I didn't want to force him to extend," Shah stated.Shah lauded Dravid's invaluable contributions to Indian cricket, both as a player and an administrator. "Rahul bhai has served Indian cricket for the past five and half years. He was director of the National Cricket Academy for three years and then for the past two and half years, he served as head coach of Team India," Shah said.He emphasized Dravid's pivotal role in India's recent T20 World Cup triumph, alongside captain Rohit Sharma. "Rahul Dravid's role is as important as Rohit Sharma in this T20 World Cup title triumph. He is a man, who took the team to the 2023 ODI World Cup final and didn't wanted to leave because he wanted to finish the job," Shah added.The BCCI has confirmed that the new head coach will be appointed in time for India's upcoming series against Sri Lanka. "Both coach and selector appointments will be made shortly. CAC has interviewed and shortlisted two names and after reaching Mumbai whatever they have decided we will go by that. VVS Laxman is going to Zimbabwe but a new coach will join from the Sri Lanka series," Shah said.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is poised to appoint a new head coach for the Indian cricket team ahead of the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka later this month. Former opener Gautam Gambhir is widely tipped to replace Rahul Dravid, who stepped down after India's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup.BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed the news, revealing that the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) had interviewed and shortlisted two candidates. "Both coach and selector appointments will be made shortly," Shah said. "CAC has interviewed and shortlisted two names and after reaching Mumbai whatever they have decided we will go by that."The CAC shortlisted Gambhir and former India women's coach WV Raman for the high-profile position. The Indian cricket team will tour Sri Lanka for three T20Is and three ODIs, beginning on July 27.Shah praised key players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for their contributions to India's recent T20 World Cup victory. Both players played essential roles in the final against South Africa, leading India to a seven-run victory. Sharma and Kohli have since announced their retirement from T20 international cricket, with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja following suit a day later."It was the same captain last year and here in Barbados," Shah commented. "We won all games except the final in 2023 as Australia played better. This time we worked even harder and played better to win the title. If you look at other teams, experience counts. From Rohit to Virat, all excelled. Experience makes a lot of difference, in World Cups you can't experiment much also. A good player knows when to say goodbye to the game, we saw that yesterday. You look at Rohit's strike rate, it is better than a lot of young players."Shah noted that leadership decisions would be confirmed after discussions with the selectors. "Captaincy will be decided by the selectors and we will announce it after discussing with them. You asked about Hardik, there were a lot of questions over his form but we and selectors showed faith in him and he proved himself."Shah addressed the transition in the team following the retirement of such significant players. "Transition has already happened with three greats retiring," he added.India, which has faced a series of disappointments in big finals over the past decade, broke their title drought with the recent T20 World Cup victory. Jay Shah expressed optimism about maintaining this winning momentum."I would want India to win all the titles," Shah expressed. "We have the biggest bench strength, only three players from this team are going to Zimbabwe. We can field three teams if the need arises. The way this team is progressing, our target is to win the World Test Championship final and Champions Trophy. There will be a similar squad playing there. The seniors will be there."While plans for a felicitation ceremony for the victorious squad are underway, they have been delayed due to a hurricane warning that has shut down the airport in Barbados."Like you, we are also stuck here," Shah said. "Once the travel plans are clear, we will think about the felicitation."Shah also confirmed that an India A team would tour Australia later this year, in preparation for the five-Test series Down Under.

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has hinted that Gautam Gambhir is likely to succeed Rahul Dravid as the head coach of the Indian cricket team after the T20 World Cup."I think he will be the next coach (for Team India)," Ganguly told reporters.Dravid's tenure as head coach ends after the T20 World Cup, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is in the process of making a decision on his replacement. Dravid has expressed his desire not to renew his contract."Every game I have coached for India is important. This is the last tournament in job. I have enjoyed coaching India, it is great to work with these boys. It is a special job. But there are schedules where I find myself that at this stage of my life, I won't be able to apply," Dravid had said earlier.Gambhir is considered a frontrunner for the role of head coach. He was a successful left-handed opener for the Indian team and has served as the team mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). KKR won their third IPL trophy this season under Gambhir's guidance.Ganguly praised the Indian team for reaching the T20 World Cup final. "To get to two World Cup finals in 7 months speaks volumes about the capability & strength of the team...They will not make any changes to the team and this is Rohit Sharma's leadership style. It will be the same team...I wish they win it tomorrow," the 51-year-old added.India will face South Africa in the T20 World Cup final on Saturday at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opener, has emerged as the frontrunner to become the next head coach of Team India. This speculation has been fueled by his recent success as mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who won the IPL 2024 title under his guidance.Gambhir's appointment would mark a significant shift in the Indian team's coaching philosophy. Known for his aggressive and competitive nature, Gambhir is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the team. His ability to inspire and motivate players, as evidenced by his support for Ravichandran Ashwin during his early days in the Indian team, is seen as a key asset.Ashwin, in his recent book launch event, spoke highly of Gambhir's character. He described him as a "very misunderstood person" who is often unfairly labeled as a villain. Ashwin emphasized Gambhir's unwavering desire to win and his ability to bring out the best in his players.Gambhir's potential appointment has also sparked comparisons with former India women's coach WV Raman, who is also in contention for the role. Interestingly, Gambhir and Raman worked together at KKR in 2014, when the franchise won the IPL title.However, Gambhir has remained coy about his future plans. Speaking at an event hosted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce, he said, "I just finished a brilliant journey (with KKR), let's enjoy that."Despite his reluctance to confirm his intentions, Gambhir's credentials and the support he has garnered from within the Indian cricket fraternity make him a strong candidate for the head coach position. His appointment would be a bold move by the BCCI, but it could potentially usher in a new era of success for Team India.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opener, has remained tight-lipped about his potential appointment as the next head coach of the Indian cricket team. However, he has provided insights into his coaching philosophy, which emphasizes the "team first ideology."Gambhir, who recently played a crucial role in Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) third IPL title win as team mentor, appeared in a virtual interview with the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee earlier this week. He is widely perceived to be India's next head coach after incumbent Rahul Dravid's tenure ends following the ongoing T20 World Cup.When asked about his prospects, Gambhir said, "I don't see that far ahead. You are grilling me, asking me all tough questions." He added, "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."Gambhir believes that putting the team ahead of individuals is the bedrock of his coaching philosophy. "If you have the intent of keeping your team ahead of any individual, things will fall in place. If not today, tomorrow, if not tomorrow, someday it will fall in place," he said."But if you start thinking on that, or if you know that you need to help one or two individuals perform, then your team will only suffer.""My job is not to make individuals perform. My job, as a mentor, is to make KKR win," said Gambhir, who was praised for his role in KKR's winning run this year."For me, the guru mantra is team first philosophy. I think team-first ideology, team-first philosophy is the most important ideology in any team sport," he added.Gambhir said that everyone was a leader in the KKR camp, which had a near-perfect campaign this year. "Yes, I was the leader, but all of us in the dressing room made the change. It was about making Kolkata proud. It was a moral responsibility for me to give something back to Kolkata," he said.The former cricketer, who also captained India on a few occasions, said that treating all members in a team equally is his approach. "In a team sport, it's the team that matters the most. Individuals do play a role, individuals do contribute," he said."But I think if 11 people are treated equally, if 11 people have equal respect, if everyone is treated equally, given the same respect, same responsibility, same honor, you will achieve an unbelievable amount of success.""You cannot have discrimination in a set up or in an organization," he added.Gambhir expressed no disappointment for not being able to captain India for a long run. "I have always thought about performing for the fans, and that has been my thought since the last year of my training career. In the middle, I got this honor of captaining India for six games. I tried doing it to the best of my ability," he said."Otherwise, I have no regrets whatsoever because my job was not to captain the series. My job was to make my country win, and whichever team I play for, make that team win," he added.He does have one regret, though. "I wish I had finished that game," he said, referring to the 2011 World Cup final in which then-skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored the winning runs."It was my job to finish the game, rather than leaving someone to finish the game. If I had to turn back the clock, I would go back there and score the last run, irrespective of how many runs I scored," added the left-hander, who scored 97 runs in that epic clash against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium.

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir is poised to take over as the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team, replacing Rahul Dravid. Gambhir and ex-India opener WV Raman were interviewed for the position on Tuesday via Zoom by the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC).Gambhir, who played a pivotal role in India's World Cup triumphs in 2007 and 2011, is expected to be formally announced as the new coach towards the end of the ongoing T20 World Cup. His tenure will commence in July 2024 and conclude in December 2027, after the 50-over World Cup.Gambhir's appointment marks a significant shift in the BCCI's approach, as he has no prior coaching experience at the international or domestic level. However, his success as a mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who won the IPL title in 2024, has convinced the decision-makers of his suitability for the role.The CAC, comprising Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik, conducted the interviews with Gambhir and Raman. Sources indicate that the interview with Gambhir was largely a formality, as the BCCI bosses are confident in his ability to lead the team.Gambhir's appointment comes amid speculation that Dravid may join an IPL team as team director. The BCCI is also expected to appoint a new selector from the North Zone to replace Salil Ankola.

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.

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.