Gautam Gambhir set to become next India head coach: Sources

Indian Premier League-winning mentor Gautam Gambhir is set to replace Rahul Dravid as the new head coach of the Indian senior men's national team, IndiaToday.in has learnt. The World Cup-winning former opener is ready to take up the responsibility despite his recent commitment to the IPL franchise, Knight Riders. The Indian cricket board (BCCI) called in applications for the top job even as Dravid's tenure is set to come to an end in June. The deadline for applying for the head coach role was May 27.

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The chatter around Gautam Gambhir taking up the role of the head coach grew louder during the second half of the IPL 2024 season. However, considering his renewed association with the Knight Riders, it remained to be seen whether the former opener would show interest in the demanding job.

Gambhir returned to KKR for the first time since leaving the franchise as a player in 2017. The two-time title-winning captain was appointed as the mentor of the franchise and he made an immediate impact, overseeing a successful campaign as KKR went on to win their third IPL crown on May 26. Gambhir, who has the trust and respect of the KKR ownership group, can extend his stay at the Knight Riders. However, a source in the knowledge of developments said Gambhir is prepared to take on the challenge of coaching the senior national team.

There was no formal approach made, but things moved forward between the board and Gambhir through informal chats, the source said. Gambhir has no previous coaching experience at the highest level, but his stints as a mentor in the IPL seem to have convinced the BCCI bigwigs that the former opener is the right man to take the team forward from Rahul Dravid.

Notably, BCCI secretary Jay Shah was spotted having a chat with Gautam Gambhir at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai after KKR defeated the SunRisers in the IPL 2024 final on Sunday, May 26. The informal chat, which was captured on TV cameras, added fuel to speculation about the head coach job.

GAMBHIR THE RIGHT MAN?

It remains to be seen if the BCCI will conduct interviews for the head coach role through the Cricket Advisory Committee, considering the likelihood of Gambhir taking up the role. BCCI secretary Jay Shah said earlier in the month that a CAC would be formed to interview the shortlisted candidates.

Gambhir's first job as a mentor at the highest level was in 2022 when he was associated with the Lucknow IPL franchise. During his two-year stint, LSG, who were coached by Andy Flower, made it to the playoffs. The former opener then returned to KKR and galvanised a hugely talented squad to their third IPL crown. Gambhir's role in offering role clarity and tuning the Knight RIders toward a common goal was highlighted by the players, the other members of the support staff and their co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.

Gambhir's proven man-management skills in the IPL will come in handy for the senior national team, which is set to undergo a period of transition, moving away from some of their big names. The former KKR captain is also known for backing talents and helping them flourish at the highest level -- a trait that will be crucial when handling young players in the senior national team.

The BCCI had approached former New Zealand opener and the head coach of the Super Kings, Stephen Fleming, and former SunRisers head coach Tom Moody after Jay Shah confirmed that the board was not averse to hiring foreign coaches.

Jay Shah also confirmed in a statement that the board did not approach any Australian cricketers for the role, days after Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer said they were not interested in taking up the role at this stage of their coaching careers.

Published By: Akshay Ramesh Published On: May 31, 2024

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