Rahul Dravid’s tenure as the head coach of the Indian Cricket Team is set to end along with the ICC T20 World Cup that is being held in the United States and the West Indies in June.
The BCCI has already invited applications to apply as the head coach of India.
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) invites applications for the position of Head Coach (Senior Men)
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With rumours swirling as to who the next coach of India will be, The Sporting News takes a look at some of the prime candidates for the head coach position.
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Who will be India's next coach? Listing down possible contenders
1) VVS Laxman
Former Indian batter, VVS Laxman is the prime candidate to replace Dravid as the head coach of India. Laxman has been serving as a coach in the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and has also replaced Dravid as the interim coach whenever Dravid has been unavailable to lead the Indian team. Laxman has also served as a mentor to the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) previously.
The mixture of both coaching skills and experience, make Laxman the front-runner to replace Dravid and establish his reign as the coach. He is also currently the board’s favourite choice to replace Dravid.
2) Gautam Gambhir
The current Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor in charge, Gautam Gambhir could also be an option for the BCCI. Working alongside head coach of KKR, Chandrakant Pandit, Gambhir has helped KKR reach the top of the table in the 2024 IPL season. KKR have won a total of nine games in thirteen matches and are one of the favourites to win the coveted trophy this year.
Before this, Gambhir had served as the mentor for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) until 2023. He was appointed as KKR mentor ahead of this season’s IPL. It might be a little too early for Gambhir though as he could be a much better prospect in the future.
3) Andy Flower
Andy Flower could prove to be a fairly decent choice if the BCCI decides to look at foreign coaches as an option. The former Zimbabwe cricketer is currently serving as the head coach for IPL side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). After having a disastrous start to the season, Flower’s team is back in contention to qualify for the playoffs after winning five consecutive games.
Apart from the IPL, Flower has also been the former head coach for England and has been a part for a number of franchises around the world. His vast experience makes him one of the top candidates for the post.
4) Justin Langer
Former Australian team coach and the current head coach and mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Justin Langer could also be one of the candidates for the India head coach job. Langer played a crucial role in Australia’s revival after the Sandpaper gate incident which sidelined the then captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner from Cricket for a while.
Australia won their first ever T20 World Cup under Langer’s leadership in 2021. Langer has now been serving as the head coach for LSG in the IPL since 2023.
5) Virender Sehwag
Another candidate for the head coach position is the former fiery opener for the Indian team, Virender Sehwag. Sehwag is known for his aggressive play style on the field and hasn’t shied away from expressing his approach towards the game in the media either. Sehwag’s aggressive playstyle could revolutionize Indian Cricket in a similar fashion that Brendon McCullum has done with the England team in Tests.
Although lacking in terms of vast coaching experience, Sehwag has served as the coach for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL before.
6) Stephen Fleming
According to the latest reports from The Indian Express, the BCCI are hoping that CSK head coach Stephen Fleming applies for the post, as they are impressed by his success with the franchise, as well as his record of improving players as well as creating a good dressing room environment.
It remains to be seen whether the Kiwi is interested, as he has not communicated any wish to the CSK management to leave the team.
7) Mahela Jayawardene
Sri-Lanka's legendary cricketer, Mahela Jayawardene has also been rumoured to take over the reigns from Rahul Dravid as the next head coach of India according to multiple media reports. Jayawardene has previously managed IPL side Mumbai Indians (MI) and has led to multiple IPL titles. He has also worked as the batting coach of Sri Lanka
Jayawardene's key skills are man-management and his ability to maintain an healthy environment in the dressing room, an important aspect for any team's success.
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