Gautam Gambhir, Mahela Jayawardene Emerge as Contenders for India Head Coach Role
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly in discussions with former India opener Gautam Gambhir and ex-Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene to take over as the national team’s next head coach. The position became available after Rahul Dravid stepped down following India’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup.
Sources close to the development have revealed that the BCCI is primarily targeting candidates with coaching experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gambhir has served as a mentor for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) since the 2023 season, while Jayawardene is the head of cricket for Mumbai Indians.
Gambhir, 42, is well-versed with the modern-day game, having retired from playing only five years ago. Despite not having any prior international coaching experience, the former opening batsman is credited with playing a key role in KKR’s recent success in the IPL. Under his guidance, the team reached the playoffs in the ongoing IPL 2023 season.
Jayawardene, 46, brings with him a wealth of experience, having played 149 Tests and 448 ODIs for Sri Lanka. He has also had coaching stints with the Sri Lankan national team and the Mumbai Indians franchise. Jayawardene has previously worked with India’s current captain, Rohit Sharma, during their time together at MI.
The BCCI is looking for a head coach who is willing to commit to the team for the next three years. This includes two World Test Championship cycles and three ICC white-ball events: the 2025 ODI Champions Trophy, 2026 T20 World Cup, and 2027 ODI World Cup.
The BCCI’s hunt for a new head coach has been ongoing since the end of India’s ODI World Cup campaign in November 2022. The board was unable to find a suitable candidate for a long-term role, and Rahul Dravid was persuaded to continue until the T20 World Cup in June 2023. National Cricket Academy (NCA) director VVS Laxman has been filling in for Dravid occasionally when international schedules conflict. However, Laxman is unwilling to take up the head coach role full-time due to the extensive travel involved.
