Is the post of the head coach of the Indian cricket team no longer an important post?

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It came as no real surprise when Gautam Gambhir, the only contender for India’s head coach position after Rahul Dravid, expressed his desire to take up the job at a promotional event in Dubai on Sunday, June 2, 2024. Meanwhile, his public confession is sure to bring a sigh of relief among the BCCI top brass as it has now virtually become a one-horse race.

“I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians and the whole world,” the two-time World Cup winner said. Buoyed by Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL win last week and a highly successful debut as an IPL mentor barely three seasons ago, Gambhir is certainly a strong contender but the circumstances under which he became the only option raise questions about how lucrative the job is at present.

So is the job of Indian team head coach no longer that attractive, even though it comes with a very high profile and a handsome pay package? There was a time – not so long ago – when people like Greg Chappell had to give presentations and get through, while stalwarts like Ravi Shastri or Anil Kumble had to attend virtual interviews with members of the then Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) with a vision plan.

Talking about 2024, it is still not clear if Gambhir has formally applied within the stipulated deadline of May 27 but he is believed to be the best candidate since VVS Laxman – the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and considered the natural successor to Dravid after the conclusion of the 50-over World Cup last year – has expressed his reluctance to take up the role.

Meanwhile, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting went public in a signed article on the ICC website, stating that he was chosen for the position on personal grounds, while his former teammate and Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer did a huge disservice to his cause by revealing that he was warned about the ‘pressures and internal politics’ of the position by none other than his franchise captain KL Rahul. Respected former New Zealand captain and Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming was also another candidate who was considered for the top job but didn’t find much success.