Graeme Swann explains why India don't need split coaching, reveals why England have multiple head coaches

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Former England spinner Graeme Swann has reckoned that India don't need to have different coaches for different formats as their players don't travel for franchise cricket around the world and people part of the country's ecosystem are also available throughout the year.

The BCCI has invited fresh applications for the head coach position, with a deadline set for May 27 as Rahul Dravid is unlikely to continue after the T20 World Cup 2024 which concludes on June 29.

''For a nation like India, because of the IPL and the fact the players don't play other leagues, people are based in India whole year round. You don't need split (separate) coaches,'' Swann replied to a PTI at the launch of the Legends Intercontinental T20 league here on Thursday.

Gautam Gambhir, the former India opener and current mentor of the IPL 2024 finalists Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Dravid as the likes of reputed foreign coaches like Australians Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer and Zimbabwean Andy Flower have ruled themselves out of contention.

England have adopted a split coaching formula with Brendon McCullum serving as the red-ball coach while Matthew Mott presides over white-ball formats. South Africa (Shukri Conrad and Rob Walter) and Pakistan (Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillispie) also have separate coaches for different formats.

''In England, we have three teams that go all around the world because our summer is in a different time, that's one of the main reasons that split coaches in England. You don't need it in India,'' Swann, who played 60 Tests, 79 ODIs, and 39 T20Is for England between 2000-2013, said.

''A good coach is a good coach, he's the right man for all three forms so be it. If the guy is specialist in white ball cricket and he's available then you can use him,'' Swann added.

But BCCI secretary Jay Shah has already ruled out the possibility of having different coaches for red and white ball formats.

"There is no precedent of different coaches for different formats in Indian cricket. Besides, we have a number of players who are all-format players. There are many common players across formats such as Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma," Jay Shah recently said.

(With Input From PTI)