The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising esteemed former players Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe, and Sulakshana Naik, is set to interview candidates today. They will evaluate contenders for the positions of India’s men’s cricket coach and a selector to replace Salil Ankola.
Gautam Gambhir, a former India Test batsman, is the only applicant for the coveted position of Indian men’s team coach. He will undergo an interview with the CAC via Zoom today. The term for the current coach, Rahul Dravid, concludes after the ongoing T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) opened applications for the position in mid-May, with a deadline set for May 27, the day following the IPL final.
Gambhir, who also mentors the reigning IPL champion Kolkata Knight Riders, is seen as a strong candidate. “The CAC comprises former cricketers Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe, and Sulakshana Naik,” noted a BCCI official.
The committee will also conduct interviews to select a replacement for Salil Ankola as a selector. With both Ankola and chief selector Ajit Agarkar hailing from the West Zone, the new selector is expected to be from the North Zone to fill the vacant spot. Agarkar, appointed in July last year, succeeded Chetan Sharma, who resigned after a controversial sting operation. Ankola was already in his role when Agarkar assumed it.
Following the interviews, the CAC will provide their recommendations to the BCCI. “We are conducting an interview session for candidates for the post of head coach and selector. The CAC will submit its recommendation to the BCCI, and the board will make an official announcement thereafter,” confirmed a BCCI source.
Amidst rumors, the BCCI clarified that no former Australian player had been approached for the coaching job, despite speculations involving Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer. “Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated. “The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect. Finding the right coach for our national team is a meticulous and thorough process. We are focused on identifying individuals who possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and have risen through the ranks.”
The BCCI outlined key requirements for the new head coach, emphasizing the need for a candidate “willing to meet work expectations and pressures associated with handling marquee athletes” and one who can aid in “developing a world-class Indian cricket team that delivers sustained success in all conditions and formats, inspiring current and future generations of cricketers and stakeholders with their approach to the game.”
The new coach’s term will commence in July 2024 and extend until December 31, 2027, concluding with the next ODI World Cup.
Stay tuned for the official announcement from BCCI, and don’t miss updates on the future of Indian cricket.
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