New Delhi: The Indian cricket team is set to undergo a major overhaul in their coaching department after the T20 World Cup 2024. If reports are to be believed, former India opener Gautam Gambhir is all set to replace Rahul Dravid as India’s next head coach after the marquee T20 tournament in the Americas. Dravid, the current head coach, will leave the top post, after his tenure, which was extended by 7 months following the ODI World Cup 2023.
As the reports of Gambhir’s appointment dominate the headlines, another big development has come to light. According to a report in RevSportz, Jonty Rhodes, widely regarded as the greatest fielder of all time, is the front-runner to become India’s next fielding coach. Though the former South Africa batter hasn’t received any formal approach yet, he is likely to be part of the new coaching staff which will take over in July.
Gambhir-Rhodes connection
Rhodes has previously worked with Gambhir at Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022 and IPL 2023. While Rhodes remained the fielding coach of the LSG since its inception, Gambhir left the mentor’s role at the franchise after two seasons. The 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup winner moved to his former franchise Kolkata Knight Riders and led them to a title win in his debut season as team mentor.
It is likely that Gambhir, who knows Rhodes well both personally and professionally, will handpick him for the fielding coach job.
Rhodes applied for the Indian team’s fielding coach post in 2019 but didn’t make the cut as BCCI reappointed R Sridhar under then-head coach Ravi Shastri. Like all the head coaches, Gambhir is likely to pick his core team, provided he gets the nod for the top post.
When Dravid was named India’s head coach in 2021, he picked Paras Mhambrey and T Dilip as the bowling and fielding coaches, respectively. The trio had previously worked together for India A and at the National Cricket Academy before getting promoted to the senior set-up.
Like all the head coaches, Gautam Gambhir is likely to pick his core team, provided he gets the nod for the top post. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
