Gautam Gambhir remains tight-lipped on becoming India coach, says not looking 'that far ahead'

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir remained coy on the prospect of succeeding Rahul Dravid as head coach of the Men in Blue after the T20 World Cup, saying he isn’t looking “that far ahead”.

Gambhir had been virtually interviewed by the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) recently and is widely tipped to take over from ex-India captain Dravid at the end of the mega event.  The retired left-handed batter had recently made a successful return to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as their mentor by guiding them to their third IPL title last month.

Gambhir, however, remained tight-lipped when quizzed on one of the most widely-discussed topics in Indian cricket at present while speaking at an Indian Chambers of Commerce event in Kolkata on Friday.

“I don’t see that far ahead. You are grilling me, asking me all tough questions.

“It is difficult to answer right now. All I can say is that I’m happy being here, just finished a brilliant journey (and) let’s enjoy that. I’m in a very happy space right now,” Gambhir said at a ‘Rise To Leadership’ seminar in Kolkata.

Dravid had earlier ruled out the possibility of re-applying for the job . His contract was set to expire at the end of last year’s ODI World Cup, but was extended by the BCCI till the end of the T20 World Cup after the Men in Blue’s clinical run to the final under Rohit Sharma’s leadership in that tournament.

Meanwhile, National Cricket Academy (NCA) Director VVS Laxman — and not Gambhir, if he gets picked — will reportedly be filling in as head coach for India’s tour of Zimbabwe that takes place right after the T20 World Cup. India travel to the southern African nation for a five-T20I series and are likely to field a second-string side in order to build a squad for the future.