BCCI reaches out to KKR mentor Gambhir for role of India head coach with Dravid unlikely to continue: Report

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly interested in hiring Gautam Gambhir as the next coach of the Indian men’s cricket team with Rahul Dravid unlikely to continue in the role beyond the upcoming T20 World Cup.

According to ESPNCricinfo, the BCCI has reached out to former India opener Gambhir, who currently serves as mentor to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), to find out whether he would be interested in filling in the vacancy once Dravid leaves the role.

Further discussions between Gambhir and the board are expected to take place at the end of KKR’s campaign although 27 May has been set as the deadline for applications for the head coach's role , which is a day after the IPL final. With KKR set for a top-two finish at the end of the league stage, their chances of featuring in the final in Chennai appear fairly high at present.

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Dravid had taken over as head coach from Ravi Shastri after the 2021 T20 World Cup and has overseen India’s runner-up finishes in the ICC World Test Championship Final and the ODI World Cup besides an Asia Cup triumph — all in 2023. His contract as head coach was originally set to end at the end of the ODI World Cup, but was extended till the T20 World Cup . The report further claims Dravid has asked the BCCI to not give him another extension as head coach.

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Gambhir has been successful as a mentor in the IPL, having previously been part of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for two seasons — with the KL Rahul-led side reaching the playoffs on both occasions — before returning to the franchise that he had led to two titles as captain.

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Gambhir’s return to the Knight Riders’ camp has also resulted in a dramatic reversal of fortunes, with the team that had finished a disappointing seventh last season currently finding themselves at the top of the IPL 2024 points table, becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs along the way.

Besides Gambhir, National Cricket Academy Director VVS Laxman, who has filled in as the head coach for Dravid on an intermittent basis, is another strong contender for the role . As is Stephen Fleming, who has been Chennai Super Kings’ head coach since 2009 and has overseen five title victories.

Former Australia opener Justin Langer, who is the present head coach of the Lucknow Super Giants and had previously coached the Aussies is also in the fray.