NEW DELHI:
Gautam Gambhir
, the mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and former India opener, is emerging as the leading candidate for the position of head coach of the Indian national cricket team as per recent media reports.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (
BCCI
) is on the lookout for a successor to the current coach,
Rahul Dravid
, whose term concludes after the ongoing 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
Gambhir's potential candidacy is bolstered by his recent achievement of guiding KKR to an IPL title as a mentor.
Anil Kumble, the former Indian cricketer and legendary spinner, stated that coaching a national team is quite different from coaching a franchise. Kumble emphasized the importance of strong leadership, especially given the transitional phase with several senior players nearing the end of their careers.
"Rahul has done a fantastic job, and hopefully, for him and India's sake, he has a swansong with the World Cup. What you also have to keep in mind is that some of the senior players are coming towards the backend of their careers. You need players who go through the transition period and ensure India doesn't miss out on the quality in the bowling and batting department. You pick and choose and transition through," Kumble told ESPNCricinfo.
"You have to give it time. He certainly is capable. We have seen Gautam handle teams. He has been a captain for India, for his franchise, for Delhi. He has all the credentials to be that. But the Indian team's coaching is slightly different, you have to give him time to settle in. Like I mentioned, in case he takes up the job, he will have the task of looking at not just the current lot, but also the future of Indian cricket," Kumble elaborated.
Gambhir is well-acquainted with many senior players in the current Indian team, alongside upcoming talents like Rinku Singh. However, Kumble believes that this familiarity may not play a significant role in the selection process.
"Today, you have been a part of the system in some form or the other. Whether you're a coach or player, you've played with them or been associated with them in some form or the other. It doesn't matter that much. What you look at is the candidature and not whether this particular coach has a background of playing with the players," Kumble said.
"I think it's important to choose the right candidate in terms of what they can bring to the Indian team, and someone who has the stature and the credibility to handle the certain situations in the game. Someone who is not afraid to take those calls," Kumble added.
Selecting the new head coach entails considering their ability to navigate the team through transitional periods while maintaining performance.
With Gambhir's track record as a player and mentor, he seems equipped to handle the challenges, provided he gets the necessary time to establish his role.
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