Gautam Gambhir Set For Team India Head Coach Role: Who Will Join Former Opener's Support Staff?

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Gautam Gambhir, the lone applicant for the role, is all set to be appointed the head coach of Team India after Rahul Dravid's tenure ends at the completion of the T20 World Cup 2024.

Gambhir is reportedly the lone applicant for the head coach post with BCCI set to interview the former India opener for the role on Tuesday (June 18) and also make the appointment official in the next few days.

Gambhir is scheduled for an interview via Zoom with the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) consisting consisting of former cricketers Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe, and Sulakshana Naik.

According to report in Dainik Bhaskar, Gambhir has already accepted BCCI's offer to become the new head coach, but the former captain had laid down a few demands, which were accepted by the board.

"We have held talks with Gambhir to become the head coach of the Indian team. He will replace the outgoing Rahul Dravid after the T20 World Cup," a BCCI source privy of the developments told Dainik Bhaskar.

The report also added that one of Gambhir's demand to the BCCI was that he would accept the job if he gets to decide the support staff. If Gambhir get's his way, there are few reports suggesting ex teammates and coaching colleagues could land a job in the national team.

Currently, Dravid's support staff includes Vikram Rathour (batting coach), Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach) and T Dilip (fielding coach). The trio's contract also ends with Dravid on the completion of the T20 World Cup. So, India will need to hire new faces for those roles.

Who will join Gautam Gambhir's Team India support staff?

According to report in Cricblogger.com, current Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Chandrakanth Pandit, former India pacer Irfan Pathan and current Lucknow Super Giants fielding coach Jonty Rhodes may be front-runners for the role.

Gambhir has worked with Pandit in KKR's IPL-winning season earlier this year, while he shared the bench with Rhodes during his term as mentor of LSG in 2022 and 2023 seasons. He has also shared the dressing room with Irfan Pathan during his playing career.

Additionally, there is also a chance for former India wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya, who has very good links with Gambhir, to join the support staff. Dahiya had worked with Gamhir in KKR and LSG before he quit his role earlier this year from the Lucknow-based franchise.