‘If Gautam Gambhir Has Applied…’: Sourav Ganguly Gives His Verdict on World Cup Winner Replacing Rahul Dravid as India Head Coach

Gautam Gambhir continues to be backed to succeed Rahul Dravid as the next India men’s cricket team head coach with Sourav Ganguly predicting him to be a ‘good coach’.

The BCCI invited applications to apply for the role last month with May 27 as the deadline. Plenty of high profile names have been linked with the role including Gambhir, Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, Stephen Fleming among others.

“I am in favour of an Indian coach because we have enormous talent in our country, enormously high-skilled players who have done wonders for Indian cricket and very rightfully they should be a part of the system,” Ganguly said during an event.

However, Ganguly enquired if Gambhir has even applied for the post.

“…has he applied? I really don’t know because first he has to apply and then only he will get the job…I think (May) 27th was the last date of application,” he said.

“Obviously, BCCI has the right to extend it (the deadline) as well. If he applies and if he wants it, and I say if he applies and if he wants it, he will be a very good candidate,” he added.

Gambhir returned to Kolkata Knight Riders, a franchise where he won two IPL trophies as captain, in the role of a mentor and the team won its third ever title.

Ganguly feels Gambhir will be a good candidate.

“If Gambhir applies — you can see it on TV — he worked for KKR this year. I was with Delhi (Capitals), you can see the hunger, the passion and the want to win and I will be happy if he applies and if the board decides to give him the job, I think he is a good candidate,” Ganguly said.

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Reports in the media claim that Gambhir is the frontrunner for the top job but there hasn’t been any official word from the former India batter or the BCCI if he has even applied for the job.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah had recently rejected reports claiming that unofficial discussions were held with Ponting regarding the coaching job 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.

Meanwhile, Ganguly reckons India, led by Rohit Sharma, have a good chance at winning their second ever T20 World Cup trophy.

“India have very good chances in the World Cup. India will have to play like a T20 team. There is enormous talent,” he said.