(Source Aaj Tak)
As the application window for the Indian cricket team’s head coach closed on May 27, Harbhajan Singh, a former Indian spinner, voiced his firm views on the speculation surrounding Gautam Gambhir’s potential candidacy for the prestigious and demanding position.
Amidst reports suggesting Gambhir as the leading candidate to succeed Rahul Dravid as India’s next coach, with additional rumors naming Ashish Nehra, VVS Laxman, and Harbhajan himself as contenders for the role, the former World Cup champion dismissed these claims as mere speculation.
Harbhajan Singh comments on the speculation surrounding Gautam Gambhir’s potential appointment as India’s next head coach.
He noted that his name had also surfaced in similar discussions regarding the position of Team India’s head coach, despite his lack of involvement in any official coaching setup and his failure to apply for the position. However, it remains unclear whether Gambhir submitted an application for the role, and the BCCI has remained silent on the identities of the applicants.
Harbhajan Singh was quoted as saying by PTI: “I doubt if that is the case with Gautam; I am not aware if he has applied for India’s head coach job or not. If I say it properly, it is speculation, which is doing rounds. My name is doing rounds, and I wasn’t even a part of any kind of system of coaching.”
He emphasized the significance of the head coach’s role, portraying it not just as an opportunity but as a substantial responsibility. He stressed that India’s foremost objective should be fostering unity within the team, ensuring that all players collaborate harmoniously towards shared objectives.
It is a very, very big responsibility: Harbhajan Singh
he commentator added, “Whoever gets the opportunity, I would rather say responsibility, a big, big responsibility, and if Gautam gets it, it should be in a way to do it so that the team plays together. The biggest thing a coach can do is bring everyone together so that the team plays together.”
In light of the ongoing speculation, Harbhajan emphasized that regardless of whether Gambhir assumes the role of Team India’s next head coach, the primary objective should revolve around fostering unity within the team. This, he believes, should be the top priority for any coach, including potential candidates like KKR mentor Ashish Nehra or others.
Harbhajan conveyed that his own coaching approach, if ever given the opportunity, would prioritize uniting the players and cultivating a robust sense of teamwork. He also expressed hope that whoever ultimately secures the position would outperform previous coaches in their stewardship of the Indian cricket team.
Harbhajan signed off by saying, “So, whether Gautam becomes coach or Ashish Nehra, or whosoever, if I am given the job, of which I am not sure if my name would pop up, my job would be to bring everyone together; whoever gets the opportunity, I hope they do better than what others before them did.”
It’s worth mentioning that Gambhir led KKR to victory in the IPL 2024, clinching the title in Chennai. His strong relationship with team co-owner Shah Rukh Khan is expected to significantly influence decision-making, assuming he has indeed applied for the role of India’s head coach.
