27 May,2024 10:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Board of Control for Cricket in India Logo (Pic: BCCI)
The deadline for applying for the post of Team India's head coach has ended on Monday. Following that, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and its top name, Gautam Gambhir chose to be silent.
After the Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL 2024 triumph, the name of Gautam Gambhir is getting more attention. With both parties not commenting anything on the matter, it seems that the Indian board doesn't have too many options available for the position.
Currently, most of the Indian team players have travelled to New York for the T20 World Cup 2024 under the guidance of head coach Rahul Dravid.
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The only thing confirmed is that no foreign player has applied for the position after the board's secretary Jay Shah clarified that the Board is looking at someone who has risen through the ranks and knows the domestic structure.
It could be safe to say that the board's primary target was VVS Laxman who is currently the head of National Cricket Academy. But the veteran seems to be least interested in a full-time position which demands him to be available for 10 months a year.
"The deadline is fine, but the BCCI brass wouldn't mind taking some more time before reaching a decision. Right now, the team will be busy with World T20 for the better part of the month of June. After that seniors will be rested from tours of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe where any of the NCA-based senior coaches can accompany the team. So what's the hurry," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Also, KKR principal owner Shah Rukh Khan shares a deep bond with Gautam Gambhir and it is not easy to leave an IPL team which has been a part of the identity of the former India opener.
There's another aspect that needs to be looked into seriously what senior India players, currently in New York, feel about whether Gambhir can indeed be Rahul Dravid's replacement.
(With PTI Inputs)
