Gautam Gambhir contacted by BCCI to replace Rahul Dravid as next Team India head coach

Step aside, Stephen Fleming, Ricky Ponting, and VVS Laxman. Gautam Gambhir is the newest contender to capture the BCCI’s interest for India’s head coach position. According to ESPNCricinfo, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has contacted the former opener as they seek a replacement for the departing Rahul Dravid. The board also reportedly reached out to Stephen Fleming for the role, but the former New Zealand captain was hesitant due to the tenure extending until the 2027 World Cup.

Gambhir’s Mentorship Experience Positions Him as BCCI’s Top Choice for Head Coach

Gambhir, presently a mentor with the Kolkata Knight Riders, lacks formal coaching experience. However, his tenure with KKR and the last two seasons with the Lucknow Super Giants have led the BCCI to consider him the perfect candidate. LSG made consecutive IPL Playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, this year, after Gambhir returned to the franchise he captained to two IPL victories, KKR not only reached the Playoffs but also finished at the top of the table.

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As of now, the BCCI and Gambhir are still in the nascent stages of discussions, with a deadline set for May 27. Further talks are expected to take place after the Kolkata Knight Riders complete their season, with the IPL concluding on May 26. Dravid has informed the BCCI of his decision not to extend his term, and the board is cautious about disrupting operations at the National Cricket Academy, where Laxman is currently serving as director.

Gautam Gambhir’s Stellar Cricketing Pedigree

According to the BCCI’s requirements, a potential coach must have played a minimum of 30 Tests or 50 ODIs. Gambhir, a two-time World Cup winner for India in 2007 and 2011, meets the criteria. He also led the Kolkata Knight Riders for seven years, during which the team scripted the longest unbeaten streak in IPL history. After his successful stint with KKR, Gambhir returned to Delhi Capitals (then Daredevils).

Until last year, Gambhir’s only association with cricket was during the IPL and occasionally as a broadcaster. However, having wrapped up his political career earlier this year, Gambhir’s return to cricket was celebrated, with KKR benefiting the most from it. It is also believed that Team India’s senior statesmen, such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, are keen to have a coach with proper pedigree; hence, with Fleming and Ricky Ponting out of the picture due to time constraints, Gambhir’s chances are high.

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