The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is, reportedly, in its conclusive stages of finalising Gautam Gambhir’s name for the head coach’s role in the Indian team. The decorated cricketer and 2011 World Cup-winning player has, though, kept a few demands in front of the BCCI in his bid to lead the Indian team as their next head coach following the completion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
The latest reports added that Gautam Gambhir has asked for the full authority of the team along with the demand for separate teams for the white ball and red ball format of cricket.
The demands are reportedly agreed upon by the BCCI office bearers, who seem to have been impressed by Gautam Gambhir’s attitude and zeal to lead the side.
Interestingly, Gambhir was slated to visit the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on June 18 for an official interview for the post of Team India’s head coach.
“Gauti (Gautam Gambhir) will be travelling today to Mumbai around 12 pm for the interview at BCCI Headquarters. It is almost confirmed that he is going to be the next head coach as the BCCI has agreed to the terms he presented for the head coach. The new head coach of the men’s cricket team will soon be revealed. The meeting is scheduled between 2-4 pm,” a source privy to BCCI told IANS.
The incoming head coach would replace incumbent Rahul Dravid for a period of three and a half years, starting from July 1st 2024.
Dravid’s tenure as India’s head coach began back in 2021 after Team India’s exit from the 2021 T20 World Cup under Ravi Shastri. He led India to the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2023 and even to the knockout stages of the T20 World Cups.
Rahul Dravid’s original tenure ended with the completion of the ODI World Cup 2023, however, he was provided an extension until June 2024 keeping in view the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Meanwhile, this time Dravid hasn’t sought any extension and has made his decision to call it quits.
Gautam Gambhir to officially become India’s head coach: Reports
The BCCI began its hunt for a new head coach with a notification release with a deadline of May 27. A string of former cricketers were reportedly approached including the likes of Ricky Ponting, Stephen Fleming, Gautam Gambhir and Justin Langer among others, who all rejected the proposal due to an insane amount of workload.
Eventually, the name that kept ringing in everyone’s mind was Gautam Gambhir, who successfully plotted the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) win to the IPL 2024 Final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
When enquired about his views on coaching Team India when the talks were ongoing between him and the BCCI relating to Team India’s head coach position, he said, “I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians and those across the globe as well.”
Now if everything becomes official and the BCCI announces him to be Rahul Dravid’s successor, Gautam Gambhir will begin his stint with Team India on July 1st, 2024. He will also have to quit his IPL duties with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) due to a conflict of interest clause mentioned in the BCCI rule book.
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