MUMBAI:
The hunt for India head coach is underway with a few high-profile names on BCCI’s radar to succeed the incumbent Rahul Dravid into the role. The likes of Gautam Gambhir, Justin Langer, Stephen Fleming and Mahela Jayawardene are reportedly in the running even though there hasn’t been any formal communication between the BCCI and them.
As per a report in The Times of India, the prospect of Gambhir taking over as the head coach have grown brighter with the BCCI officials set to meet the former India opener in Ahmedabad where he’s currently with IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders for playoffs.
“There has been no formal communication with the potential candidates. All these coaches are biding their time and weighing options. But it seems Gambhir’s stocks have risen. It is likely that the board officials will speak with Gambhir in Ahmedabad where he is with KKR for the IPL playoffs,” TOI quoted a BCCI source as saying.
The source also brushed aside any concerns over Gambhir’s frosty equation with any senior India star claiming he’s getting along with them quite well.
The on-field flare-ups between Gambhir and Virat Kohli are well-documented but the two seemed to have moved on from their past rivalry. The duo was seen hugging each other after a match between KKR and Royal Challengers Bengaluru and a clip of them having a lively chat went viral on social media.
“If people are talking about Gambhir’s friction with Virat Kohli, it can be confirmed that the two have always got along well off the field,” the source added. “Even after the bust-up during an IPL match last year, the two were made to sit down and sort out any issue if they indeed had one.”
Dravid’s contract with the BCCI ended after the 2023 ODI World Cup but he was convinced by the board to continue at least till the 2024 T20 World Cup.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah though has kept the doors open for Dravid to reapply for the top job even as reports claim the former India captain is reluctant as he wants to spend time with his family now.
