The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) conducted interviews for the head coach position in Mumbai on Tuesday. Among the candidates interviewed was Gautam Gambhir. WV Raman was also believed to have been spoken to by the CAC members Sulakshana Naik, Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjpe. The complete list of candidates remains uncertain, but it is clear that Gambhir was not the only one.
The interviews were conducted online. Gambhir, who recently mentored the Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL trophy, is the favorite for the position after Rahul Dravid confirmed that he is not interested in continuing as head coach of the national team after the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup. Gambhir has expressed his interest in serving the country as head coach, stating recently that there is no greater honor.
“I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians and more across the globe as well and when you represent India, how can it get bigger than that? It is not me that will help India win the World Cup, it is 140 crore Indians who will help India win the World Cup. If everyone starts praying for us and we start playing and representing them, India will win the World Cup. The most important thing is to be fearless,” he said at an event in Abu Dhabi recently.
It is learned that the interviews will continue on Wednesday. Sources indicate that, in addition to the head coach interviews, the CAC will also complete interviews for the senior selector position, which the BCCI had advertised some time ago. The BCCI needs one selector, ideally, from the North Zone and the new candidate should replace Salil Ankola, who is the second candidate from the West Zone after chairman Ajit Agarkar. An announcement of the new head coach and the new North Zone selector is expected soon.
Rhodes to be fielding coach?
Strong suggestions indicate that Gambhir has asked Jonty Rhodes about his interest in joining the support staff under him in the Indian team. The approach, it may be clarified, is from Gambhir and not from the BCCI as of now. If picked, Gambhir is entitled to have the support staff of his choice.
Rhodes and Gambhir go some away, both having worked at Lucknow Super Giants franchise in IPL for two years before Gambhir left the Lucknow side to join KKR for the last season. Rhodes could not be immediately contacted but the South African, who has extensive coaching experience, having worked for the South Africa national side besides many IPL franchises, including Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings besides LSG, is believed to be mulling about the proposal. He is understood to have asked the LSG management if it is willing to release him.