Former Indian opener and IPL 2024's winning team, Kolkata knight Riders (KKR) mentor, Gautam Gambhir has been the hottest prospect to take over as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team. The current coach, Rahul Dravid will be stepping down from the role following India’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in the United States and the West Indies.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had released an invitation to apply for the head coach position earlier in May, as Dravid's tenure was all set to finish by the end of June. Several applications were submitted to the BCCI for the coach's role and the last day to apply for the job was set on Monday, May 27.
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According to a news report in the Dainik Jagran, Gambhir is all set to be announced as the head coach at the end of this month after Dravid completes his term in the role, following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024.
When will Gautam Gambhir take over as Team India head coach?
The report suggests that the BCCI have decided that Gautam Gambhir will be announced as the next head coach of the Indian cricket team at the end of this month.
One of the sources in the BCCI is reported to have confirmed the talks between Gambhir and the governing body of cricket in India. Both have supposedly agreed that the former star opener will take over the new role after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024.
Gambhir is reported to have said that when he takes over the role as head coach of the Indian team, he would like to be given full freedom to pick his own support staff. The BCCI has reached an agreement with the soon-to-be head coach, regarding this matter.
इस महीने के अंत में गंभीर के नाम की होगी घोषणा.... pic.twitter.com/AdjbYM5JcI
— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) June 16, 2024
The current Indian support staff includes Vikram Singh Rathore (batting coach), Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach), and T Dilip (fielding coach).
When Ravi Shastri became the head coach of the Indian team, he replaced Sanjay Bangar with Vikram Rathour, as the team's batting coach, and when Dravid took over, he did not replace Rathour and instead, chose to continue with him. On the other hand, both the current fielding and bowling coaches, were picked by Dravid himself.
Further, according to the report, Gambhir is set to bring big changes to the current Indian set-up, both in the support staff as well as the main Indian cricket team, which is currently being led by captain Rohit Sharma.
Team India finished first in Group A at the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 and secured a place in the Super 8 phase, by remaining unbeaten, after wins against Ireland, Pakistan and USA. Their game against Canada on Saturday was called-off due to a wet outfield.
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