(AFP Photo)
Sourav Ganguly maintains his support for Gautam Gambhir as the frontrunner to take over from Rahul Dravid as the next head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, expressing confidence in Gambhir’s potential as a “good coach.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) opened applications for the position last month, with the deadline set for May 27. Several notable figures, including Gambhir, Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, and Stephen Fleming, have been associated with the role.
“I am in favour of an Indian coach. If he has applied, Gambhir will be a good coach,” Ganguly said during an event in Mumbai.
Gambhir reunited with the Kolkata Knight Riders, a franchise where he led to victory in two IPL seasons, this time in the capacity of a mentor. Under his guidance, the team secured its third IPL title.
Media reports suggest that Gambhir is leading the race for the top coaching position, yet neither the former Indian cricketer nor the BCCI has provided any official confirmation regarding his application for the role.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah recently dismissed rumors suggesting that informal talks took place with Ponting regarding the coaching position during IPL 2023.
“Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer,” Shah said in a statement. “The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect.”
“Finding the right coach for our national team is a meticulous and thorough process. We are focused on identifying individuals who possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and have risen through the ranks,” the statement read.
In the meantime, Ganguly believes that under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India stands a strong chance of clinching their second-ever T20 World Cup title.
“India have very good chances in the World Cup. India will have to play like a T20 team. There is enormous talent,” he said.
India is scheduled to play a warm-up match against Bangladesh on Saturday before beginning their campaign against Ireland on June 5th.
