Gautam Gambhir not finalized for India's head coach role after the interview: Report

The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), a three-member committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has finally started the interview process for the high-profile role of head coach for the Indian Cricket Team.

The Ashok Malhotra-headed CAC has two other members, Sulakshana Naik and Jatin Paranjape, who reportedly conducted the first round of the interview on Tuesday, June 18, via Zoom.

BCCI plays the waiting game on Gautam Gambhir's appointment

It is being said that former Indian batter and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor, Gautam Gambhir, appeared for the online interview with CAC on Zoom from Delhi on Tuesday.

Senior PTI journalist Kushan Sarkar revealed that Gambhir will appear for the second round of the interview on Wednesday, June 19. But the BCCI can make the much-awaited announcement by Tuesday.

Some info on @GautamGambhir
1. He appeared for his interview with CAC on zoom from Delhi.
2. Apparently one round happened today and another round might happen tomorrow (May be Techical ke baad HR😄😄😄)
3. CAC head Ashok Malhotra is doing commentary in PUnjab T20 League and…

— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) June 18, 2024

The BCCI is currently on the hunt to find a suitable candidate to replace legendary Rahul Dravid as India’s head coach, with Gautam Gambhir emerging as the frontrunner to get the top job at the world’s richest cricket body.

Gautam Gambhir's eadership qualities and strategic acumen makes him fevourite to become India head coach

Dravid's tenure with the Indian cricket team will end after the conclusion of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the United States. Earlier, Dravid confirmed that he would not continue as head coach after his term ends, having served the national team since November 2021 following Ravi Shastri's departure.

On the other hand, Gambhir recently guided KKR to their first IPL title in a decade after helping Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to the playoffs in the same capacity in the back-to-back seasons. Well, Gambhir brings a wealth of experience and accomplishments to the table, having led teams at various levels.

His leadership qualities, strategic acumen, and deep understanding of the game make him a top candidate for the BCCI to replace Dravid as Team India’s next head coach. Meanwhile, the CAC will also conduct interviews to find a new selector to replace Salil Ankola after the interview for the head coach’s role.

CAC set to find a new selector to replace Salil Ankola  

Since both national selector Ankola and chief selector Ajit Agarkar are from the West Zone, the new selector is expected to be from the North Zone, which currently has a vacant position. Agarkar, appointed in July last year, succeeded Chetan Sharma, who resigned after being involved in a sting operation, when Agarkar took over.

Notably, the BCCI outlined several key requirements for the new head coach. The candidate must be prepared to handle the expectations and pressures of managing high-profile players and should focus on developing a world-class Indian cricket team that achieves consistent success across all conditions and formats of the game.

Additionally, the BCCI wants the new head coach to inspire current and future generations of cricketers and stakeholders with his approach to the game.