I would love to be head coach of team India: Gautam Gambhir

Amidst rumours that the BCCI are keen on appointing Gautam Gambhir the next head coach of team India, the former India opener has added fuel to the fire by admitting that he would ‘love to coach’ the Indian team if given the opportunity.

With incumbent head coach Rahul Dravid unlikely to re-apply or seek another tenure, the BCCI are currently in hunt for the next candidate for the job.

"Look, I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honour. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team," Gambhir said in an event in Abu Dhabi.

"You are representing 140 crore Indians. And more across the globe as well. And when you represent India, how can it get bigger than that?"

In the same interaction, responding to questions, the former India batter said, "How can I help India win the World Cup - I think it's not me that will help India win the World Cup, it is 140 crore Indians that will help India win the World Cup. 

“If everyone starts praying for us, and we start playing and representing them, India will win the World Cup. The most important thing is to be fearless and yes, I would love to coach India."

Last week, reports circulated that the BCCI had approached Ricky Ponting for the role, but the board’s secretary Jay Shah denied those rumours.

"Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer," Shah said. 

"The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect."

The BCCI secretary further claimed that the board are looking at appointing someone with a ‘deep understanding’ of the structure of cricket in the country.

"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."

Gambhir doesn't have any prior experience coaching at the international level, but he’s mentored Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Under his mentorship, LSG reached the playoffs in both 2022 & 2023. KKR, meanwhile, lifted the trophy for the third time in their history last month, on the back of a dominant campaign.

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