The competition for the head coach role of the Indian men’s cricket team has intensified as former cricketers Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman emerge as the main contenders. Until recently, Gambhir was seen as the clear frontrunner, with reports suggesting that the BCCI had nearly finalized a deal with him, with an official announcement expected after India’s campaign in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup. However, WV Raman, with his extensive coaching experience, has now entered the fray.
Raman’s coaching credentials include stints with Tamil Nadu and Bengal in domestic cricket, assistant coaching for Punjab in the IPL, and serving as the head coach of the Indian women’s cricket team from 2018 to 2021. He also has a personal connection with Gambhir, having helped him regain form in 2013 before they worked together at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where Gambhir led the team to their second IPL title in 2014.
Despite Gambhir’s relatively limited coaching experience, primarily as a mentor for two IPL franchises, his success with KKR adds weight to his candidacy. The BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), consisting of Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik, interviewed both candidates, and Raman’s impressive interview has reportedly led to consideration of utilizing both Gambhir and Raman in the coaching setup.
A source tracking the developments suggested that the BCCI might employ both candidates in complementary roles, such as Gambhir as head coach and Raman as batting coach or assigning more responsibilities to Raman in red-ball cricket. This approach could leverage the strengths of both individuals to benefit Indian cricket.
The CAC faces a challenging decision in choosing between Gambhir and Raman, especially since no overseas candidate has been interviewed yet, narrowing the choice to these two experienced Indian options.