Gautam Gambhir Interviews for India Men’s Head Coach Role
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, the frontrunner to replace Rahul Dravid as the India men’s national team head coach, has formally applied for the position and attended an interview with the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) on Tuesday, ESPNcricinfo has learned.
Gambhir, who recently helped lead Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title as the team’s mentor, had been in informal discussions with the BCCI during the IPL 2024 season. The BCCI had set May 27 as the deadline for applications for the high-profile coaching role.
Second Stint in a Coaching Capacity
This will be Gambhir’s second stint in a coaching capacity, having previously served as a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants in the 2022 and 2023 IPL seasons, guiding the team to the playoffs on both occasions.
“There is no bigger honor than coaching your national team. 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?”
- Gautam Gambhir
Gambhir became the frontrunner for the role after his former India teammate VVS Laxman, who was previously considered a leading candidate, told the BCCI last year that he was not interested in the head coach position. Laxman currently serves as the director of cricket at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
Three-and-a-Half-Year Term
The BCCI has stated that the new India head coach will be appointed for a three-and-a-half-year term, from July 2024 to December 2027, and will be responsible for leading the team across all three formats of the game.
🔗 Source