14 May,2024 07:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
VVS Laxman (Pic: File Pic)
Former Indian batsman and National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman suits best for the post of Team India's head coach by replacing Rahul Dravid.
With BCCI secretary Jay Shah ruling out the possibility of having different coaches for red and white ball formats, it will be a hunt for one candidate, who will have to live out of a suitcase for the majority of the next three and half years.
With Rahul Dravid's contract ending after the T20 World Cup 2024, he can reapply for the position. But with BCCI open to accepting applications from interested parties by May, a day after the IPL 2024 final, it is learnt that the board is looking for a new face.
Here are some of the big names who could be interested in applying for the post.
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VVS Laxman:
If he applies for the top post, Laxman will be a runaway favourite. The 49-year-old has been NCA's head for the past three years and is overseeing the development of the next batch of Indian cricketers through the board's pathways system (India A and India U19).
He was in charge of coaching responsibilities of Team India in the absence of Dravid. Team India under his coaching has played in the Asian Games, T20I series against Australia, England, New Zealand and Ireland.
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With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami being around the corner for at least another two years, Laxman can act as a bridge between the new and old players in the team.
"Must be willing to meet work expectations and pressures associated with handling marquee athletes," is one of the job requirements and who better than Laxman, who shares great rapport with the current batch.
Gautam Gambhir:
The ones who have played top-level cricket in the last 10 years and have seen the game evolve through formats, Gautam Gambhir's intelligence also can't be ignored. During his captaincy stint for KKR where they won two titles, and back-to-back play-offs with LSG in their first two years, Gambhir has always been praised for his management skills.
Under his mentorship, Kolkata Knight Riders have seen success in the IPL 2024. They became the first team to qualify for the playoffs. Also, his deep emotional attachment to KKR and a personal bond with principal owner Shah Rukh Khan could stop him from applying.
The other thing that makes Gambhir a strong contestant is his strong-minded quality. Virat Kohli will also be around for the better part of the next three years and given the history between both of them, it could be a rocky terrain. But it must be mentioned that Gambhir and current skipper Rohit Sharma share a terrific relationship.
Justin Langer:
Ashes and T20 World Cup-winning Australian coach is a good tactician but also a strict disciplinarian. In a recent interview, Langer did say that he is not averse to giving it a thought but being an India coach could be both mentally and physically demanding.
The same perks are always available in the IPL, working just for two months a year. If Dravid doesn't reapply, the most important series would be the one Down Under and who better than 'JL' to provide some inside information about his 'home team'.
A Gambhir or Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra has proved their coaching abilities in white ball cricket but not in the longest format.
(With PTI Inputs)
