Gautam Gambhir with Jay Shah during IPL 2024

(Last updated on June 19, 2024 - 11:30am IST)

Jonty Rhodes to be appointed fielding coach?

A Cricbuzz report suggests that Gambhir might have asked Rhodes about potentially joining his staff as fielding coach for the Indian team. Rhodes has a lot of coaching experience, having been associated with national teams as well as IPL teams. Gambhir has worked with him for two years at Lucknow Super Giants. If Gambhir is indeed appointed as the head coach, he will have the right to choose his preferred support staff.

Interviews also to be conducted for selectors

According to reports, along with interviews for the head coach role, BCCI will also conduct interviews for a senior selector's position. Salil Ankola, who's the second selector from the West Zone after Ajit Agarkar in the current selection committee, is expected to be replaced, ideally by someone from the North Zone. The announcement is expected to come along with that for the new head coach.

Gautam Gambhir attends interview in Mumbai

On June 18, reports emerged that Gambhir had indeed applied for the post of India head coach, and had attended an online interview with the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) earlier in the day. There have been rumours that he was the only applicant for the role, but these are unconfirmed.

In fact, reports from later in the day state that former India women's team head coach WV Raman was also interviewed, and had an impressive presentation to showcase. It is also rumoured that the BCCI will interview an overseas candidate on Wednesday.

Gambhir wants assurances

On May 25, attention turned to Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir as the standout candidate for the job. It was reported that the former India opener wanted an assurance from the BCCI that he would be appointed as India's new coach if he filled in the application.

Ponting, Langer rule themselves out

On May 23, four days before the application deadline, Ricky Ponting said he had been approached informally by the BCCI during the Indian Premier League, but was not interested in the role due to his other coaching commitments. Justin Langer also ruled himself out of the job, saying that the time was not right and citing a conversation with KL Rahul around the 'pressure and politics' of coaching India.

This then prompted a public clarification from BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, who claimed that "neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer."

Rumours swirl about Stephen Fleming

Two days after the applications were opened, rumours suggested that Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming was one of the frontrunners for the post, and that BCCI remained hopeful that he would apply. However, Fleming was reportedly not interested due to the amount of travel and time away from home that it meant for him.

BCCI opens applications for new head coach

On May 13, 2024, the BCCI opened applications for the post of India men's head coach via a Google Form, outlining the conditions for eligibility.

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