Former India Test batsman Gautam Gambhir, who is the only person who applied to be the coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, will have an interview with the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) over a Zoom call on Tuesday. The current coach, Rahul Dravid, will finish his term after the ongoing T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked for applications for the coach’s position in mid-May, and the deadline was May 27, the day after the IPL final.
Gambhir is also the mentor for the current IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders. The CAC includes former cricketers Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe, and Sulakshana Naik.
The CAC will also interview candidates for the selector’s role to replace Salil Ankola. Both Ankola and chief selector Ajit Agarkar are from the West Zone, so the new selector is likely to come from the North Zone, a position that is currently vacant. Agarkar was appointed in July last year, taking over from Chetan Sharma, who resigned after being involved in a controversy. Ankola was already a selector when Agarkar became chief selector.
A source from the BCCI confirmed, “We are interviewing candidates for the head coach and selector positions. The CAC will share its suggestions with the BCCI, and the board will make an official announcement afterward.”
The BCCI also had to clarify that they did not approach any former Australian player for the job, despite Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer, who coach in the IPL, saying they turned down such approaches.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated, “Neither I nor the BCCI approached any former Australian cricketer for a coaching role. Reports in some media are wrong. Selecting our national team’s coach is a careful process. We aim to find candidates who understand Indian cricket well and have risen through its ranks.”
The BCCI listed certain requirements for the new head coach, including being ready to handle the demands and pressures of coaching top athletes. They also need to focus on developing a high-performing Indian cricket team that achieves success consistently in all types of matches and conditions. The coach should inspire both current and future cricketers and everyone involved in the game with their approach.