Cricket set for a 'Gambhir' switch? Ex-opener approached for head coach role, says report

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has reportedly been approached by the BCCI to become the next head coach of the senior men’s team.

Earlier this week, the BCCI officially invited applications for the India head coach’s post with May 27 set as the deadline.

As per the job description, the new India men’s head coach would be for all three formats from July 2024 till December 2027.

Dravid’s original contract as India’s head coach began after the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup in November and had come to an end with the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup at home and was extended till this year’s Men’s T20 World Cup.

Now, a report in ESPNCricinfo on Friday says Gambhir, the current mentor of two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders, is on top of the BCCI's wishlist to take up the position after Rahul Dravid's term gets over at the end of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, to be held in the West Indies and the USA from June 1-29.

The report further said Gambhir has been contacted by the BCCI to know if he is interested in the top job, and further discussions are expected after KKR complete their IPL 2024 campaign.

“The deadline for applying for the India head coach job is May 27, a day after the IPL final.Dravid, it is learnt, has communicated to the BCCI his decision not to seek another tenure,” it added. Gambhir, 42, has no previous experience of being the head coach at the international or domestic level, but has been in a mentorship role in the IPL.

He was the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants franchise in IPL 2022 and 2023, where they qualified for the playoffs in both seasons.