Gautam Gambhir is being strongly considered to succeed Rahul Dravid as the next head coach of the India men’s cricket team, with Sourav Ganguly expressing his belief that Gambhir would make an excellent coach.
The BCCI recently invited applications for the head coach position, setting May 27 as the deadline. Several high-profile names have been linked to the role, including Gambhir, Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, and Stephen Fleming.
“I am in favour of an Indian coach because we have enormous talent in our country, with highly skilled players who have done wonders for Indian cricket. They rightfully should be a part of the system,” Ganguly stated during an event.
However, Ganguly questioned if Gambhir has even applied for the position.
“…has he applied? I really don’t know because first he has to apply and then only he will get the job…I think (May) 27th was the last date of application,” he mentioned.
“Obviously, BCCI has the right to extend it (the deadline) as well. If he applies and if he wants it, and I say if he applies and if he wants it, he will be a very good candidate,” Ganguly added.
Gambhir returned to Kolkata Knight Riders, a franchise where he won two IPL trophies as captain, in a mentor role this year, and the team secured its third-ever title. Ganguly believes Gambhir’s recent success further supports his candidacy.
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“If Gambhir applies — you can see it on TV — he worked for KKR this year. I was with Delhi (Capitals), and you can see the hunger, the passion, and the desire to win. I will be happy if he applies and if the board decides to give him the job; I think he is a good candidate,” Ganguly said.
Reports suggest Gambhir is a frontrunner for the position, but there has been no official confirmation from the former India batter or the BCCI regarding his application.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah recently dismissed reports of unofficial discussions with Ponting about the coaching job during IPL 2023.
“Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer,” Shah clarified in a statement. “The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect.”
“Finding the right coach for our national team is a meticulous and thorough process. We are focused on identifying individuals who possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and have risen through the ranks,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, Ganguly is optimistic about India’s chances in the upcoming T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma’s leadership.
“India have very good chances in the World Cup. India will have to play like a T20 team. There is enormous talent,” he said. India will face Bangladesh in a warm-up match on Saturday and will kickstart their campaign against Ireland on June 5.
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