Jay Shah says Ponting, Langer not approached by BCCI for coaching job; hints Dravid's successor will be Indian

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Jay Shah has cleared the air over reports suggesting that former Australia greats Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer have been approached by the BCCI for the role of India head coach. He said neither him nor anyone else from the BCCI has approached the Australian duo who were part of the IPL 2024.

Current head coach Rahul Dravid has reportedly decided not to go for a third term as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. His current contract ends after India's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in June.

''Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer. The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect," Shah said in a statement.

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting and his Lucknow Super Giants counterpart Justin Langer recently reacted to the idea of coaching the Indian cricket team, and both came to the conclusion that travelling with a national team for 10 to 11 months every year away from home was a daunting task.

''Finding the right coach for our national team is a meticulous and thorough process. We are focused on identifying individuals who possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and have risen through the ranks,'' Shah said, dropping hints that Dravid's successor could well be an Indian.

The BCCI secretary also said that having in-depth knowledge of Indian domestic cricket will be one of the important criteria for appointing the next coach.

He said the understanding would be crucial to ''truly elevate Team India to the next level.'' Former batter Gautam Gambhir, who is mentoring Kolkata Knight Riders right now, is speculated to be among the top contenders for the post.

(With PTI Input)