According to earlier reports, the BCCI has reportedly contacted Ricky Ponting to inquire about his suitability for the position of head coach for India. A few other people were also connected to the post, including Andy Flower, Stephen Fleming, and Justin Langer.
On Friday, BCCI secretary Jay Shah denied rumors that the Board has approached any former Australian cricket player to be the next head coach of India. However, he did imply that Rahul Dravid’s replacement might be an Indian, stating that the new coach should have a “deep understanding” of the national game. Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer, two former Australian players, have stated that they have rejected offers for the prominent role, despite Dravid having allegedly informed the board that he is not interested in a third tenure.
“I have not extended a coaching offer to any former Australian cricket player, nor has the BCCI. In a statement, Shah added, “The reports that are doing the rounds in some sectors of the media are entirely false.
As the head coach of the Delhi Capitals and the Lucknow Super Giants, respectively, Ponting and Langer are both active in the Indian Premier League. Former batting great and World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir, who is currently coaching Kolkata Knight Riders, is thought to be one of the leading candidates at this time.
“It takes careful thought and investigation to select the best coach for our national team. We are concentrating on finding people who have advanced through the ranks and have a thorough understanding of the Indian cricket system,” Shah stated.
Although taking on the role of coach for India also means being away from home for 10–11 months, Ponting reported that his family appeared prepared for the move.
“…I had a whisper to my son about it, and I said, ‘Dad’s been offered the Indian coaching job’ and he said, ‘Just take it, dad, we would love to move over there for the next couple of years'” he responded.
“That’s how much they love being over there and the culture of cricket in India, but right now it probably doesn’t exactly fit into my lifestyle,” Ponting explained.
After the LSG vs. Mumbai Indians IPL match, Langer had been hesitant to apply for an India coaching position. However, he later stated that he would “never say never” and disclosed that Lucknow captain KL Rahul had given him some very important advice. Langer told the BBS Stumped Podcast, “It would be an amazing job.” I’ve worked with the Australian squad for four years, and I can tell you that it’s a demanding duty. It also wears you out. That’s the role that Australian job.
“You don’t say never. The pressure to do it in India… I was speaking with KL Rahul, and he said, ‘You know, if you think there’s pressure and politics in an IPL squad, double it by a thousand while coaching India. “That was good advice, I suppose,” Langer added.
“It would be an awesome job, but not for me at the moment,” he stated.
Andy Flower, the former England and current Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach, has also ruled himself out of the competition, stating that he is content with his current role in franchise cricket.
Similar remarks have been made regarding Stephen Fleming by Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan, who claims the former captain of New Zealand will not be amenable to accepting a position requiring him to work “nine-ten months a year.”
Given the level of support the national team receives, Shah called the role of head coach for India the most prestigious in all of international cricket and said it requires a high degree of professionalism.
“The position of Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team holds the highest prestige when discussing international cricket. With the largest fan base in the world, Team India has unmatched support, the speaker stated.
“One of the highest paying occupations in the world is ours due to our long history and enthusiasm for the game. Being able to develop some of the world’s finest cricket players and follow an assembly line of gifted players calls for a high degree of professionalism in the task.
“Catering to the aspirations of a billion fans is a huge honour and the BCCI will pick the right candidate, capable of propelling Indian cricket forward,” Shah said.
