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After weeks of speculation surrounding Gautam Gambhir‘s potential appointment as India‘s next head coach, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor finally broke his silence on the matter. With Gambhir emerging as a frontrunner to replace Rahul Dravid post the T20 World Cup 2024, his recent triumph with KKR in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has only fueled the speculation further.
Application surge for the head coach’s position by the BCCI
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) received an overwhelming response to its call for applications for the head coach’s position, with over 3000 interests reported. Although the deadline for applications closed on May 27, the board is yet to disclose the list of candidates who have applied for the role.
Gautam Gambhir’s vision for Indian cricket
Speaking at an event at Medeor Hospital in Abu Dhabi, Gambhir engaged with young sports enthusiasts and shared his aspirations and vision for Indian cricket. When questioned about his coaching ambitions, Gambhir expressed his desire to coach the Indian national men’s cricket team, stating that it would be the pinnacle of his career. He stressed the importance of collective effort in achieving success on the world stage, particularly highlighting the significance of the Cricket World Cup.
“I have not answered this question, although a lot of people have asked me. But I have to answer you know. I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians and those across the globe as well,” Gambhir was quoted as saying by India Today.
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Potential conflicts and career highlights
Gambhir’s potential appointment as Team India head coach would require him to step down from his role as the KKR mentor due to conflicts of interest. Despite this, Gambhir’s illustrious career as a player, marked by two World Cup victories with the Indian team in T20 World Cup T20 and ODI World Cup 2011, solidifies his credentials for the coaching role.
“It is not me that will help India win the World Cup, it is 140 crore Indians who 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,” Gambhir concluded.
