BCCI Will Seek Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly's Guidance In Search For New Coach

The Board for Cricket Control in India, or BCCI has decided to take the advice of retired cricketing legends Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly in the appointment of the next coach for the Indian national team, according to various reports including NDTV. The position is currently vacant after Duncan Fletcher’s tenure ended after the World Cup in March.

Ganguly was himself considered to be one of the favourites for the position in the last few weeks but that doesn’t seem to be the case for now. The three cricketers were the mainstay of Indian cricket from the last two decades, and formed, along with VVS Laxman, the ‘Fab Four’ of Indian cricket. Sachin Tendulkar made his debut in 1989 while Ganguly made his debut in 1992 and Dravid in 1996. The three of them collectively scored over 75,000 runs in international matches, and over their new two decade long careers gained considerable experience.

“The Working Committee of the BCCI authorised the President Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya to constitute a cricket advisory committee comprising of prominent cricketers who will share their recommendations on the overall conduct and development of the game. The process to identify the coach and support staff for the Senior National team will be undertaken by the Hon. President and the Hon. Secretary,” said Anurag Thakur, the BCCI secretary in a press release on the BCCI website.

With Duncan Fletcher not so successful in his tenure as the Indian team suffered heavy defeats away from home, the Board seems keen on an Indian coach this time around. Greg Chappel’s disastrous tenure from 2005-2007 will also make the Board wary, although South Africa’s Gary Kirsten did an excellent job with the team as the Men in Blue won the 2011 World Cup at home. Assistant coaches Sanjay Bangar, Bharath Arun and R Sridhar are expected to be retained by the board.

Email karthik17g.b@gmail.com to contact author of this article.