Who is in line to become Indian Team's next coach?
The deadline for Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) advertisement to apply for the post of Indian cricket team coach closed yesterday. If the reports are to be believed, the advertisement received an extremely poor response from the cricketing fraternity. However, there are some favorites for the post. Let us have a look at each one of them in detail.
Kumble's work with the team led to less applications?
One of the shortlisted coaches from last year, Pravin Amre said, "It was an open race last time. This time, the situation isn't correct. Anil has done well for the team and I don't feel that I should apply."
Skipper Kohli's favourite?
After reports of spat between current coach Anil Kumble and skipper Virat Kohli became public, it was also reported that Kohli is in favor of Ravi Shastri becoming the head coach. Shastri was Team India's director from August 2014 to April 2016 and his work yielded positive results for the team. However, he has not applied for the position this year.
From junior team coach to senior?
Rahul Dravid's name as the next coach has also been proposed several times. Along with achieving positive results as the coach of India's Under-19 and 'A' teams in the last couple of years, Rahul Dravid has personally overseen the development of many young cricketers. However, on the matter of coaching the senior team, Rahul Dravid said that coaching former teams-mates isn't a way forward.
Virender Sehwag
While there have been reports that many officials from BCCI are trying to convince the star batsmen to apply for the job of the coach, Virender Sehwag has clearly said no to the offer. However, the efforts are still on.
Only applicant to BCCI's advertisement
Reportedly, current coach of the Indian Premier League team Sunrisers Hyderabad, Tom Moody, is the only applicant to the BCCI's advertisement for the post of Indian coach, although there has been no official confirmation on that. Indian haven't appointed an overseas coach since Duncan Fletcher's term ended in 2015. It is Moody's third attempt to become the coach of the Indian team.
It could be either Kumble or Shastri
With no one ready to take the position, BCCI's committee could either continue Anil Kumble's next term. However, it is unlikely if the rift between him and Kohli is not resolved. BCCI might be forced to bring back Shastri seeing his closeness with Kohli. The only problem might be that Shastri does not share a warm relationship with BCCI's advisory panel member Sourav Ganguly.
Our take
India can't have a coach with a strong personality if ego clashes with senior players are to be avoided. However, if team's interests have to be put ahead of everything, it is wise to continue with Kumble as the coach until the 2019 World Cup.
