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'Don't Need Anyone From Outside': Gautam Gambhir Backs Indians For Head Coach Role

image-lpo1v9d2Rahul Dravid (X.com)

Rahul Dravid succeeded Ravi Shastri as the Indian senior cricket team's head coach in 2021. Under his tenure, the team secured various milestones, including playing in the ODI World Cup 2023 finals.

However, with the unfortunate finals loss to Australia, Dravid's 2-year tenure came to an end. Having said that, the BCCI earlier confirmed the extension of Dravid's contract, along with the rest of the coaching staff, till the conclusion of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.

While the former Indian cricketer is yet to sign official papers, Rahul Dravid is likely to tour with the team for the forthcoming South African tour. 

That being said, fans speculate about the appointment of a foreign coach after Rahul Dravid's extension concludes. However, former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator Gautam Gambhir has voiced a strong stance in favor of prioritizing Indian coaches in various capacities within the Indian cricketing setup.


Gambhir Insists On Incorporation Of Indian Coaches

Gambhir, known for his forthright opinions, emphatically stated, "Don't need anyone from outside," advocating for the inclusion of homegrown coaching talent in the Indian cricket system.

"We saw how well India played in the World Cup and that shows that we don't need anyone from the outside. Our problem is we are probably not able to present that well, use the laptop, or speak English that well. We don't have those corporate skills, but we know how to put the hard yards on the field and do the groundwork," said Gambhir.

The former Indian opener said that Indian coaches' lack of presentation and communication skills has fooled fans into believing that foreign entities are better at the job. But India's recent success in the ODI World Cup under the mentorship of the Indian coaching staff is a perfect testament to how in-house candidacy works best for India.

The former opening batsman highlighted the need to trust and invest in the capabilities of Indian coaches who understand the nuances of Indian cricket.

Gambhir also added that emotion is a key aspect of the game, and nobody can match the commitment level of an Indian coach as they understand the importance of the stakes involved. 

Thus, Gambhir backed former Indian World Cup-winning cricketers to enter the senior team's coaching setup and urged the BCCI to prioritise their candidacy.