Former Indian batter Gautam Gambhir is poised to become the new head coach of Team India following discussions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), according to Cricbuzz.
With the T20 World Cup 2024 marking the end of Dravid's tenure as coach, he is anticipated not to reapply for the position. In the search for a new head coach, Gambhir has emerged as the leading candidate.
While there is no official confirmation yet, Gambhir has likely applied for the role of head coach. The deadline for submitting applications was Monday, 27th May.
The report indicated that the BCCI and Gautam Gambhir are in discussions, with negotiations ongoing on various aspects. Both parties share the belief that "we must do it for the country".
"The buzzword inside the coach selection circle is 'desh ke liye karna hai'. Both the BCCI and Gambhir share the belief that 'we must do it for the country.' And the conversation between Jay Shah and Gambhir is understood to be centred around this idea," the report said.
It has come to light that a prominent IPL franchise owner, who maintains close ties with the BCCI high-ups, has already confirmed Gambhir’s appointment as the head coach of Team India, declaring it a done deal with an official announcement coming soon.
On the other hand, a well-known commentator, who is also closely connected to the BCCI's activities, stated that efforts are underway to bring Gambhir on board as the head coach of the team. The former India cricketer was also observed conversing with Jay Shah following the IPL final.
Gambhir has informed his close associates that he is contemplating accepting the position of the Indian head coach. Even Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner Shah Rukh Khan is aware of this development, although there has not been any official confirmation so far.
Remember, Gambhir served as a mentor for KKR in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) where they won the title. He led the franchise to two titles during his time as a captain in 2012 and 2014.
- Gautam Gambhir
