'Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli on wrong side of 30': India head coach front-runner Gautam Gambhir gets stern warning
Gautam Gambhir is the frontrunner to become the next Indian head coach as reportedly he has already interviewed for the position.
Team India is all set to enter a transitional phase after the T20 World Cup, as a new coaching staff will take over the charge, replacing Rahul Dravid and Co. Gautam Gambhir, mentor of IPL 2024 champions Kolkata Knight Riders, is the front-runner in the big race to become the next Indian head coach, having already interviewed for the position. Gambhir was a big-match player for India, having played the match-winning knocks in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup, including the finals. Gambhir is also a proven tactician. As captain, he led KKR to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, and as mentor, ensured Lucknow Super Giants reached consecutive IPL Playoffs.
KKR's impressive show under Gambhir's mentorship this year straightaway made him the favourite to replace Dravid. Besides Gambhir, another former India cricketer, WV Raman, has also been interviewed by the Cricket Advisory Committee, for the position of coach, although it is believed that the honour will eventually be bestowed on Gambhir. As per reports, the official announcement will be made by the end of the T20 World Cup and the next head coach - whoever it is - will begin his term with India's T20I tour of Zimbabwe.
If it's Gambhir, Aakash Chopra, the former India cricketer, shared his views on the direction Indian team will be heading towards under the next coach.
"Gautam Gambhir has given the interview. It's been said that it was a virtual interview as opposed to WV Raman, who gave a fantastic presentation. I have just read that. Gautam Gambhir is the frontrunner in this race. It's been said everywhere and we have also understood that," Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
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However, Chopra suggested that managing the transition in Indian cricket won't be easy for Gambhir as several players are over 30 in the set-up, including the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin.
"I am saying it will be an interesting tenure because you will have to manage the transition here, and that is never an easy thing. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, maybe Ravindra Jadeja, especially their roles in T20s, there are plenty of people who are on the wrong side of 30, 35 to 37, including Ravichandran Ashwin," Chopra added.
Gambhir, known for his aggressive attitude, doesn't shy away from making bold decisions, and if he becomes the Indian head coach, prepare a team for the 2027 World Cup will be one of his biggest challenges.
"In the next three to four years, when the 2027 World Cup comes, you have to prepare your team for that. There will also be a WTC in 2027 and a T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in 2026. So a very important roadmap will have to be prepared," Chopra said.
