Gautam Gambhir receives backing from former captain as India head coach talks intensify

Former India captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has backed Gautam Gambhir to become Team India’s new head coach, replacing Rahul Dravid, whose tenure is ending following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in the Americas. A few days after posting (on social media) about how the head coach's selection shapes up a team’s future, Ganguly urges an Indian to fill that soon-to-be-vacant position, and who better than the rumoured candidate Gambhir?

Backing any former Indian ahead of the touted overseas names like Stephen Fleming, Mahela Jayawardene and the Australian duo of Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting, Ganguly feels BCCI need not look beyond the Indians (who had applied for this job), adding there is enormous coaching talent in this country, with everyone rightfully deserving to be part of the system.

"I am in favour of an Indian coach because we have enormous talent in our country, enormously high-skilled players who have done wonders for Indian cricket, and very rightfully, they should be a part of the system," Ganguly said while addressing this topic during his speech at the International Procurement and Supply Chain Conference's opening in Mumbai.

Ganguly also talked about Gambhir, saying if he had applied for this post, he made a strong case for himself.

"...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," Ganguly said of Gambhir.

"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," the former India captain continued.

Gambhir on a roll following KKR’s IPL win

Kolkata Knight Riders lifted the IPL 2024 trophy, beating SunRisers Hyderabad in the most one-sided final. Though all the participating players deserve the utmost credit for this winning campaign, Gautam Gambhir, who Shah Rukh Khan roped in as the mentor for this season, earned the right to be called the man to make this happen.

Gambhir’s brief coaching credentials speak for him, having led his former franchise, Lucknow Super Giant (LSG), to playoffs in two consecutive seasons, and Ganguly feels with the latest title run campaign with KKR, he pressed his case for becoming Team India’s next head coach.

"If Gambhir applies — you can see it on TV — he worked for KKR this year. I was with Delhi (Capitals), you can see the hunger, the passion and the want to win and 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.

Meanwhile, Team India is in the Caribbean and the USA for the 20-team tournament starting June 2. India will play one warm-up game against Bangladesh and open their campaign against Ireland on June 5.

India is placed in Group A alongside co-hosts USA, arch-rivals Pakistan, Canada and Ireland.

(With inputs from agencies)