BCCI rejects split-coaching formula as Gautam Gambhir set to become all-format India head coach - Report

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir is set to be announced as head coach of the men’s cricket team by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). According to the latest news reports, Gautam Gambhir will become the head coach of the Indian team for all three formats of the game during his tenure.

The BCCI invited applications for the head coach position on its website last month. The current head coach, Rahul Dravid, decided not to reapply for the role. Dravid replaced Ravi Shastri after the 2021 T20 World Cup. The 51-year-old's term was extended by six months after the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

The BCCI set a deadline of May 27 for head coach applications. Gambhir mentored the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The former Indian opener led the KKR franchise to their third title. He previously mentored the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 2022 and 2023 IPL seasons.

Gautam Gambhir Set To Become Head Coach For All Three Formats

On Tuesday, Gautam Gambhir and former women's team coach WV Raman were interviewed by the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee for the head coach position. The BCCI is expected to officially announce the next head coach's appointment towards the end of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 or after its conclusion.

It remains uncertain if any other candidates will be interviewed on Wednesday. According to a report by TOI, the 42-year-old will become the Indian Men's cricket team head coach for all three formats, with his term running from July 2024 to December 2027, concluding after the next edition of the ODI World Cup.

"Gambhir was in Delhi and appeared for the interview on Zoom. CAC head Ashok Malhotra is doing commentary in Punjab T20 League and attended via zoom, but Paranjape and Naik were at the BCCI HQ in Mumbai. The interview was a mere formal part of the process, since the BCCI bosses are convinced that he's the right man for the job, as they sense the need to have a coach who can take a few tough calls going forward in Indian cricket," a source told TOI.

There had been widespread speculation about Gautam Gambhir's potential role in Indian cricket after he exited active politics on March 2, just before the BJP's candidate announcement for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The success with the Knight Riders further solidified his profile for the head coach job in Indian cricket.

The Delhi-born cricketer played a pivotal role in India's victories at the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup. He was the top run-scorer for the team in both finals. He featured in 58 Tests, 147 ODIs, and 37 T20Is and amassed over 10,000 runs across all three formats in his illustrious international career.

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