BCCI Delays Gautam Gambhir’s Appointment
Gautam Gambhir and the BCCI are in the “final stages of salary negotiations.” Once his remuneration is finalized, the BCCI will officially announce him as India’s head coach. With Rahul Dravid ending his tenure on a high note by securing the T20 World Cup trophy, it’s now only a matter of time before Gambhir takes over the role.
Gambhir has been the front-runner for the position ever since Dravid confirmed he would not continue after the T20 World Cup. Gambhir and WV Raman were the only two applicants who went through the interview process conducted by the Cricket Advisory Committee, comprising Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik. Multiple reports suggest that Gambhir is certain to be India’s next head coach. The official announcement is expected as soon as the salary negotiations are concluded.
Gautam Gambhir, the former left-hander, was recently seen shooting a farewell video for the Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, signaling the premature end of his second tenure with the franchise. Gambhir had played a crucial role in making KKR IPL champions after a decade. This move has fueled speculation about his imminent appointment as India’s head coach.
However, the delay in the official announcement by the BCCI can be attributed to ongoing salary negotiations. According to The Indian Express, Gambhir and the BCCI are in the “final stages of salary negotiations.” Once Gambhir’s remuneration is finalized, the BCCI will make the announcement.
The BCCI has kept the options open regarding the salary for the head coach of the Indian cricket team. In the advertisement inviting applicants, it was mentioned that the remuneration is “negotiable and will be commensurate with experience.” Gambhir is expected to receive a higher salary than his predecessor, Rahul Dravid, whose yearly remuneration was around ₹12 crore.
This will be Gambhir’s first assignment at the national level. He has never been associated as the head coach of any team before. His only coaching experience has been in the IPL, where he was the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants for a couple of seasons before switching to KKR last year, helping them win the IPL. The formal announcement from BCCI is anticipated as soon as the salary negotiations are concluded.
Currently, the Indian cricket team in Zimbabwe is playing under the guidance of NCA head VVS Laxman. BCCI secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that India will travel to Sri Lanka for a white-ball series with a new head coach.
The BCCI will soon invite applications for the team’s support staff as the tenures of batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip ended after the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.
When appointing the support staff, the BCCI allows the head coach to take the final call. Gambhir will reportedly be given a free hand to choose his support staff after the application process is completed.
