Both Gautam Gambhir, WV Raman Likely to Be Appointed as India Coaches in Different Capacities: Reports

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to appoint a new head coach for the Indian men’s national cricket team as Rahul Dravid’s tenure draws to a close after the T20 World Cup 2024.

While former Indian opener and Kolkata Knight Riders’ mentor Gautam Gambhir has been the frontrunner for the role, a new development has emerged with WV Raman, another former Indian opener with extensive coaching experience, also being considered.

Gambhir is still favoured for the position. However, Raman’s impressive coaching resume, spanning domestic cricket, the IPL, and the Indian women’s cricket team, coupled with his thorough presentation during the interview with the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), has made him a strong contender as well.

If reports in the media are to be believed, the BCCI is contemplating a split-coaching approach, which has been adopted by teams like England, West Indies, South Africa, and Pakistan. This move is being considered to address the demanding schedule of coaching the Indian team for ten months a year with constant travel, which has led several high-profile candidates, including Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, Andy Flower, and Michael Hussey, to withdraw from the race.

The report suggests that the BCCI could potentially utilize the services of both Gambhir and Raman, with one serving as the head coach and the other as the batting coach or allowing Raman to have more say in red-ball cricket. This approach could benefit Indian cricket, as both individuals have valuable insights and experience to offer.

Interestingly, Gambhir and Raman have previously worked together during the 2014 IPL season when Raman joined KKR as the batting coach while Gambhir was leading the team. That year, KKR emerged as champions.