The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) conducted interviews for the position of India’s head coach, with former cricketers Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman being the candidates. Both candidates were interviewed by CAC members Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik, with each interview lasting approximately 40 minutes. The interviews were held over Zoom, and it is anticipated that another round of discussion will take place before the official announcement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
While Gambhir is considered the frontrunner for the role, Raman’s detailed presentation during his interview garnered positive feedback from the CAC. However, Gambhir’s experience as a mentor for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL seems to have positioned him as the preferred candidate. Notably, Gambhir’s coaching experience is primarily limited to the IPL, while Raman has a more extensive coaching background, including coaching the Indian women’s national cricket team and serving as a batting coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
The new head coach is expected to lead India through the ICC white-ball events and the World Test Championship from July 2024 to November 2027.
Amid the tight battle for the role Rahul Dravid is set to vacate this month, Raman also shared a cryptic 2-word post that sparked buzz on social media.
Oh dear!!
— WV Raman (@wvraman) June 18, 2024
“Oh Dear,” posted Raman on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday night. What exactly the former Indian women’s team coach is implying with the post, however, isn’t yet known.
Additionally, the BCCI is also in the process of interviewing candidates for the North Zone selector’s position, further emphasizing the ongoing restructuring within Indian cricket. It is anticipated that the CAC will also interview an overseas candidate for the head coach role, adding another layer of complexity to the selection process.
The final announcement regarding the head coach is expected to follow an Apex Council meeting, during which the coach selection process will be discussed. The 42-year-old Gambhir recently guided Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL trophy as the team’s mentor, further enhancing his credentials. Meanwhile, the Indian team is currently in Barbados for the Super 8 matches after an unbeaten run in the group league stage. Their upcoming match against Afghanistan is set to be a pivotal encounter in the ongoing tournament.
