The ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has captured the attention of Indian fans, with the tournament hotting up as the second finalist and this year's champion will both be determined by Sunday. There will be no respite from cricketing action after this season either, as the T20 World Cup starts just five days after the final.
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However, looking beyond the global tournament, the future of the Indian national team is at a crossroads. Current coach Rahul Dravid is set to step down after his tenure ends in June, and the BCCI invited applications for the role from May 13, with a deadline of May 27 for interested applicants to get in touch.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah claims board 'has not approached any former Australian cricketer' for head coach role
On Thursday morning, another prominent personality in former Australian captain Ricky Ponting revealed that he had been involved in discussions for the role during the ongoing IPL, but ruled himself out of the role due to the excessive travel involved. Later on Thursday, current Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer revealed that after discussions with KL Rahul, he had decided the role was not for him, even if it were to be offered.
MORE: Justin Langer pulls out of India coach job
On Friday morning, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah sought to refute the reports of contact with Ponting or Langer. Speaking to the press, he said,
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. Finding the right coach for our national team is a meticulous and thorough process.
Shah further elaborated that the board was looking to identify individuals with a strong understanding of domestic cricket. This could possibly mean the BCCI prefer an Indian candidate to fill the vacancy.
We are focused on identifying individuals who possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and have risen through the ranks. It's crucial that our coach has an in-depth knowledge of our domestic cricket framework to truly elevate Team India to the next level: Shah
— Shayan Acharya (@ShayanAcharya) May 24, 2024
READ MORE: Who will be the next India coach? All the candidates listed
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