Gautam Gambhir, who initially appeared to be the sole contender for the head coach position of the Indian cricket team, now faces competition from another former cricketer, WV Raman. While Gambhir recently participated in the first round of interviews with the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), news broke that Raman also underwent the interview process.
A two-way battle for India head coach job?
Raman, a former Indian player himself, served as the head coach of the Indian women’s team from 2018 to 2021. Both Gambhir and Raman virtually attended their interviews with the CAC panel consisting of Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik. Interestingly, Malhotra resumed his commentary duties after interviewing Gambhir.
Although Gambhir remains the frontrunner to replace Rahul Dravid, reports from News18 suggest that WV Raman presented a highly detailed and impressive plan during his interview. Well-placed sources within the BCCI reveal that Raman’s presentation has made a strong impression.
Gautam Gambhir
BCCI looking for an overseas coach?
More importantly, the CAC is considering interviewing an overseas candidate as well. This is has after Jay Shah disclosed that BCCI won’t be looking at any overseas coaches. With that, another question arises on who could be that overseas individual?
“Gambhir attended a virtual interview, but Raman’s presentation was very impressive and comprehensive. The CAC is likely to interview an overseas candidate tomorrow. While Gambhir holds an edge due to his experience, Raman’s thorough presentation cannot be ignored,” stated a BCCI official.
This unexpected turn of events has injected intrigue into the Indian cricket coach selection process. With Gambhir’s strong credentials and Raman’s impressive presentation, the CAC has a tough decision to make in choosing the next head coach for the Men in Blue. Regardless, the current Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor remains the frontrunner of the prestigious job.