No need foreign coaches?: Parthiv Patel calls for homegrown coaches for Indian cricket team

As BCCI is looking for a new head coach for the Indian cricket team, former Indian wicketkeeper-batter and commentator Parthiv Patel believes that the team does not require overseas coaches, highlighting the strength and success of homegrown coaching talent.

Patel questioned the need for foreign expertise, mentioning that many National Cricket Academy (NCA) coaches have integrated into the Indian cricket team. He further highlighted the consistent success of India's U-19 team, which frequently wins the World Cup, and the strong performances of the India A team on overseas tours under Indian coaches.

Strongly denying appointing a foreign coach for India, Patel stressed that these achievements showed the capability and effectiveness of domestic coaches to rely on their talent for the development and success of Indian cricket.

India doesn't need overseas coaches: Parthiv Patel

Furthermore, the former Indian cricketer cited Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Chandrakant Pandit as a prime example of India's coaching expertise. The former RCB star reiterated that Pandit's outstanding success in domestic cricket highlights the potential of Indian coaches to develop successful teams.

Parthiv Patel was quoted as saying by PTI: “There are a lot of coaches from NCA that have joined the Indian team, I don't see the need for overseas coaches. India has so many capable coaches. Every other year our U-19 team wins the World Cup, and the India A team does well on overseas tours. They are coached by Indians so why do we need outside coaches? Chandrakant Pandit is a huge example.”

The last time an overseas coach coached the Indian cricket team was during the 2015 World Cup, with former Zimbabwe cricketer Duncan Fletcher at the helm. Before Fletcher, India had a bad experience under Greg Chappell's infamous tenure.

However, South African great Gary Kirsten changed the mindset about overseas coaches with remarkable coaching expertise and played a significant role in India's historic success at the 2011 World Cup. India ended a 28-year-long wait for the World Cup under Kirsten’s coaching.

Parthiv Patel explains how VVS Laxman filled in the absence of Rahul Dravid as coach

Following Kirsten's successful stint, India turned into a homegrown coach with Anil Kumble, Ravi Shastri, and Rahul Dravid have all served as head coaches of the national team in recent years.

When the current head coach Dravid required breaks from his coaching duties, VVS Laxman, the Director of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), stepped in to fill the void, and did a great job.

Given that, Parthiv said that several talented coaches in the NCA can guide the Indian team, apart from Dravid and Laxman, in case they refuse to take up the role. He signed off by saying, “We have seen when Rahul Bhai was coach, Laxman bhai filling in for him. Though it's not just the two coaches as there are other NCA coaches.”

It is being said that the BCCI has approached the KKR mentor and former Indian batter Gautam Gambhir for the high-profile job, as Laxman is not reportedly interested in taking up the high-pressure job and wants to continue work at the NCA.