Kumar Sangakkara to leave Rajasthan Royals? This team comes calling at the door amid Rahul Dravid's return

The buzz in English cricket is electrifying as the England cricket team gears up for a major shift in their limited-overs strategy, especially in the coaching set-up. The Telegraph has revealed that Jos Buttler is set to remain the England captain for both ODI and T20I formats.

With Buttler steering the ship, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is on the hunt for a revolutionary new coach—one with a proven track record in international cricket as glittering as and a keen mastery of white-ball formats, as the head coach Matthew Mott’s days are over with the team.

England's search for the perfect white-ball coach begins; Kumar Sangakkara emerges as the frontrunner

The stakes are high, and one major criterion could be experience of coaching in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where fortunes are often made or broken.

So, who’s in the race to take the reins from Mott? According to The Telegraph, the hot favorites include Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara, who serves as the head coach of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL.

Sangakkara has been Buttler’s IPL boss over the years, and the former Sri Lankan captain could be the ideal choice to replace Mott as England’s white-ball head coach, given his profound ties with the captain, as he will be one of the decision-makers.

Then there's Mike Hussey, the former Australian cricketer, who played a pivotal role in England’s 2022 T20 World Cup triumph.

With his current role as head coach of Welsh Fire in The Hundred 2024, Hussey’s name is stirring up serious buzz, having already worked with England as a consultant.

And let’s not forget South African-born English cricketer Jonathan Trott—fresh from guiding Afghanistan to a historic semi-final finish at the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Trott’s name is also making the rounds for England’s head coach position in white-ball cricket. His leadership might just be the fresh breath England needs after facing tough times for the last 15 months.

Andrew Flintoff out of race to become England's new white-ball coach

One more name has also been in the news for a long time to become the coach, and he is England's own cricketing legend, Andrew Flintoff.

However, despite his current role with the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred 2024 and working with England as a consultant, insiders suggest that Flintoff's appointment is still a long shot.

He is not considered for the top role at the England side. With England’s limited-overs series against Australia on the horizon and major tournaments like the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 ODI World Cup far away, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is taking its time to finalize the decision regarding the white-ball coach.

The ECB is looking for a candidate with a perfect blend of experience and innovation for the limited-overs team. The decision on the new coach is still in the air, but he is likely to be at the helm before England’s high-stakes white-ball series against Australia in September.