Aoba Tanaka 
With Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinching their third IPL title under the mentorship of Gautam Gambhir, speculation is mounting about the former India skipper’s potential appointment as the next head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team. The deadline for applying for the coveted position ended on Monday, and Gambhir’s name has been prominently floated in cricketing circles, especially following his recent success in the IPL.
The anticipation was further fueled by a significant meeting between BCCI secretary Jay Shah and Gambhir after KKR’s title triumph on Sunday. This interaction has sparked widespread rumors about Gambhir’s possible appointment.
A recent report from Cricbuzz suggests that Gambhir’s appointment is nearly finalized, with ongoing negotiations on multiple fronts. “A very high-profile owner of an IPL franchise, who is very close to the BCCI top brass, said that Gambhir’s appointment is a done deal and the announcement will come soon. A high-profile commentator, who is very clued into the happenings in the BCCI, said efforts are being made to rope in Gambhir. The fact that an announcement has not yet come suggests that negotiations are underway on multiple fronts — between the two parties and, perhaps, with some others too,” the report stated.
Jay Shah recently dismissed claims that the BCCI had approached any former Australian cricketer for the head coach position, hinting that Rahul Dravid’s successor could be an Indian. He emphasized the importance of a candidate with a deep understanding of the game’s structure in the country. “Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer. The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect,” Shah said in a statement.
Shah’s remarks and the current buzz in the coach selection process underscore the shared belief between the BCCI and Gambhir that the focus should be on serving the country. The Cricbuzz report highlighted this sentiment, stating, “The buzzword inside the coach selection circle is ‘desh ke liye karna hai.’ Both the BCCI and Gambhir share the belief that ‘we must do it for the country.’ And the conversation between Jay Shah and Gambhir is understood to be centred around this idea.”
While Rahul Dravid has reportedly informed the board that he is not interested in a third stint, former Australian players like Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer have also turned down approaches for the high-profile position. With Gambhir’s impressive track record and his recent IPL success, his potential appointment as India’s head coach is eagerly anticipated by fans and cricketing experts alike.
