NEW DELHI: Former India batsman
Gautam Gambhir
, who recently led Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL trophy as the team's mentor, was interviewed by the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) on Tuesday for the position of the national team's head coach. It is highly likely that Gambhir will replace
Rahul Dravid
, who will step down after the team's T20 World Cup campaign in the Americas.
Dravid was already on an extension after his initial contract ended following last year's ODI World Cup at home. He chose not to seek another term after the T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean.
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman
Kamran Akmal
believes Gambhir is the ideal candidate for the head coach position. He also suggested that Team India consider legendary pacers
Ashish Nehra
or Zaheer Khan as potential options for the bowling coach role.
"Gambhir jo cheez chootha hai, wo sona ban jaati hai. Wo jis team se judta hai, wo successful ho jaati hai [Whatever Gambhir touches turns into gold. The team he joins becomes successful]," Kamran told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.
"Team India doesn't need any foreign coaches. They have plenty of options and talent. After Dravid, no one can be the best and bigger than Gautam Gambhir. He was a big player and will become a great coach too. He is the best option India have right now.
"Gambhir was with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). They did really well under him. He became a mentor of KKR and they became champions. He is an amazing planner and has a brilliant cricketing mind. I have played a lot of cricket with him. We have been together for a long time. We played, had food, and had chats together. We are still good friends. We are still in touch," he said.
"He is the best man to coach Team India. He should be the head coach. India can go for Ashish Nehra or Zaheer Khan as bowling coach," Kamran added.
Current India head coach Dravid is currently with the team for the T20 World Cup in the Americas. India topped Group A and are now in Barbados for their Super 8 matches. They will face Afghanistan on June 20 in their first Super 8 match.
Praising Dravid, Kamran Akmal remarked that the legendary cricketer has significantly contributed to Indian cricket both as a batsman and a coach.
"Rahul Dravid has given a lot to Indian cricket. Not just with his batting, he has given a lot to Indian cricket as a coach as well. He has been working with a different model with Team India. He is one of the greats. Be it Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly or Dhoni, these four have given a lot to Indian cricket. And Team India should take help from these four cricketers as much as possible," Kamran said.
"Dravid started coaching U-19 cricket and then went to NCA and then the senior team. Just look at his graph. He is someone who believes in making the roots and foundation so strong. He has made his Team India. Team India are dominating at the moment but the behind the scene credit goes to Rahul Dravid," he said.
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