New Delhi: Gautam Gambhir is all but set to be appointed as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team in the next few days. However, he will reportedly not travel with Team India to Zimbabwe for their upcoming five-match series following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024. The series is all set to get underway on July 06.
As per a report in PTI, India legend VVS Laxman and his support staff from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) will be accompanying the Indian team on their tour of Zimbabwe. Laxman is the current head of the NCA in Bengaluru and has previously travelled with the team in the absence of the current head coach Rahul Dravid.
Laxman was also in the running for the India head coach post. However, he didn’t apply when the BCCI invited applications for the position last month. Gambhir is the favourite to replace Dravid after his tenure ends post the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024.
Gambhir is set to pip former India women’s team coach WV Raman, who has also applied for the position and was interviewed by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) earlier this week. As per PTI, Gambhir’s appointment is expected in the next few days but he will only take charge of the Indian team in mid-July when they travel to Sri Lanka for a white-ball series consisting of three T20Is and as many ODIs.
“There is a possibility that Laxman along with some of the NCA coaches will travel with the new look squad to Zimbabwe. Laxman and the NCA team has always filled up whenever Rahul Dravid and the first team coaches have been taken periodic breaks during their stint,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by PTI.
The BCCI has already accepted Gambhir’s demand that he will select his support staff once his appointment as the head coach is final. That has been in the case in the past as well as the likes of Ravi Shastri and Dravid both got a say in selecting their support staff. However, Gambhir will not rush things to take charge of the Indian team.
IPL performers set to be rewarded
India are likely to send a young team to Zimbabwe for their upcoming tour and the squad might consist of several performers from IPL 2024. As per PTI, the likes of Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma and all-rounder Nitish Reddy are all set to get a chance. Among fast bowlers, the likes of Harshit Rana and Yasah Dayal also earn maiden call-ups for the series.
India’s squad for the Zimbabwe tour is all set to be announced next week and it remains to be seen if Gambhir’s appointment will be finalised before that.
Gautam Gambhir is reportedly unlikely to travel with the Indian team for their upcoming tour of Zimbabwe after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024. An Indian legend will accompany the team along with his support staff. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
