Gautam Gambhir sole candidate for India cricket team's coaching job, to be interviewed on Tuesday: Report

Gautam Gambhir is the leading candidate to become India’s next head coach, AFP cited media reports on Tuesday indicating that he is the sole applicant for the prestigious role. Applications for the post closed on May 27 and Gambhir turned out to be the only person to put his name forward, a report by the Indian Express said.

Gambhir, 42, was a dynamic left-handed batsman with over 10,000 international runs across all formats, most recently led the Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title as their coach. After retiring from cricket in 2018, Gambhir ventured into politics. He was elected in 2019 as a Member of Parliament for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. However, he stepped down from his political role in March to coach the IPL’s Knight Riders.

The Indian Express report claimed that he was set to be interviewed on Tuesday. The Times of India called him the "presumed front-runner".


The role of India's head coach, presently occupied by Rahul Dravid, will soon be open after he opted not to extend his tenure post the T20 World Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking for a successor to guide the team through to the next 50-over World Cup in 2027.

Since clinching the Champions Trophy in 2013 under their previous foreign coach, Zimbabwean Duncan Fletcher, India has not secured a global title.

Initial media reports suggested that along with Gautam Gambhir, former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and Australian cricket legends Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer were also being considered for the role. However, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah refuted these claims, clarifying in a statement that no Australian candidates had been approached for the head coaching position.