Gautam Gambhir might be the front-runner for the India head coach job. The two-time World Cup winner and current Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor has piqued the interest of the BCCI, and according to the board, he could be a perfect replacement for Rahul Dravid.
Despite apparent interest, Gambhir hasn’t applied for the job yet. A big reason behind his reservation is his current stint with KKR. Having led the franchise to two titles (2012 and 2014), he has now taken them to the IPL 2024 Final on his return. It’s this very same success that is potentially coming in the way of him and the India head coach job.
Gautam Gambhir’s 10-year deal with KKR
KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan doesn’t want Gambhir to part ways with the franchise, and during his time with the Lucknow Super Giants, he had requested that his former skipper come back to guide the team. He even went so far as to say that he’d give the Indian legend any amount of money to ensure he returned to KKR.
A source told Jagran: “He (Gautam Gambhir) has not talked about it with KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan yet. If he applied for the job, he’ll definitely talk with SRK, as he wishes that Gambhir stays with the franchise for the next 10 years.”
Indian Cricket
Strong bond to stop Gambhir?
In his recent interview with Ravichandran Ashwin, the KKR mentor revealed that Kolkata was his second home and that he has a strong connection with the people and the management. Much of this stems from his success with the franchise. He’s taken KKR to 5 playoffs and 2 titles in seven seasons as Kolkata’s captain in the IPL, and now his success as a mentor may just stop Gautam Gambhir from becoming India’s new head coach.
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