For now, the Indian cricket team is without a designated head coach. The time period of Rahul Dravid, who was in charge of the team, ended with the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024. A second-string Indian cricket team has driven to Zimbabwe for a 5-match T20 International series, but with the head of the National Cricket Academy, VVS Laxman, temporarily filling the vacant head coach position. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has already interviewed two candidates for the job—Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman—with the former expected to take up the role. But there’s been some delay in the announcement.
since BCCI secretary Jay Shah has already confirmed that the new coach will be put in charge from the Sri Lanka series onwards. According to a report, the delay in the official announcement is due to the ongoing salary negotiation between Gambhir and the board.
Alongside Dravid, the coaching stint of his staff, including batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip, has ended. After the appointment of Gambhir becomes official, the board needs to start working on the process of hiring other coaches too.
It has also been reported that the board is planning to give Gambhir a complete free hand as far as the selection support staff is concerned. A batting coach might not even be hired, as Gambhir himself was a top-level opening batter during his playing days.