Aakash Chopra said that Gautam Gambhir could be a good choice for the post of Team India’s head coach if the team is in the transition phase. However, if the team has seniors on the side, Aakash is not sure how successful Gambhir will be, considering his strict approach.
There were reports of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) exploring the possibility of hiring Stephen Fleming, Ricky Ponting or Gautam Gambhir. Even Lucknow Super Giants’ head coach Justin Langer showed his interest. With Rahul Dravid leaving the job after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, the apex body wants to complete the task of hiring a new coach at the earliest. The advertisement is already out. The overseas players haven’t shown much interest, considering the expectations and duration of the job.
Gambhir, who is working as a mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League 2024, is the front-runner.
Chopra praised Gambhir’s strong personality, saying that the southpaw wouldn’t be a bad choice as the head of the coaching staff but he is not sure how the senior players would play under his strict coaching methods.
“Gambhir is not a bad choice because he is a straightforward person. He knows how to manage players and build a squad. He is good in the auction process. However, there will be no auction for the national team. Gautam Gambhir is a strong personality,” Chopra said.
“When there is a transition phase, a new captain is coming to lead the squad, then Gambhir is the best choice. However, if the team has seniors players, his style of working could create problems. He is a like a strict father and the children have to be careful,” he added.
Gambhir led KKR to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. Lucknow Super Giants made it to the playoffs in two seasons under his mentorship. He joined KKR as a mentor for the 17th season and the franchise finished on top of the points table after the league stage for the first time in their history.