Rahul Dravid is to be replaced by Gautam Gambhir, all set to become India’s new head coach.
New Head Coach for Team India
According to the reports, Gautam Gambhir is all set to become the new head coach of Team India by replacing Rahul Dravid. The decision is expected to be announced soon, with Gautam Gambhir emerging as the top candidate to replace Rahul Dravid.
Rising Star in Coaching
Gambhir’s name is well-known in cricket but he has gained more popularity, especially after his great job as a mentor for an IPL team in 2024. His impressive work and hard work have caught the attention of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) thus leading him to secure the position of head coach for team India.
Other Candidates Considered
The BCCI also considered several big names from Australia and other IPL coaches like Stephen Fleming and Andy Flower. However, Gambhir appears to be the leading choice because of his outstanding performance as a mentor for an IPL team which performed exceedingly well. Under his mentorship, the IPL team performed excellently thus making Gambhir the leading choice.
IPL Success Boosts Gambhir’s Profile
Gambhir’s reputation was raised after his team, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), performed exceptionally well in the IPL 2024. KKR was the top team in the league stage and went on to win the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad. After the final, Gambhir had a lengthy chat with BCCI secretary Jay Shah, sparking further speculation about his future role.
Gambhir’s Coaching Journey
According to a report in India Today, Gambhir is now set to replace Dravid as Team India’s head coach. Gambhir recently joined KKR as a mentor, leaving his previous role with the Lucknow Super Giants, where he started in 2022. Despite not having experience as a head coach for a national team or an IPL team, his success with KKR has made the BCCI consider him seriously for the head coach position.
Selection Process
The BCCI invited applications for the head coach position by May 27 and received over 3000 applications, including some fake ones. The Cricket Advisory Committee will soon start interviewing the shortlisted candidates to finalize Dravid’s successor.
-Prisha Jaiswal