The search for Team India’s new coach is most likley to begin before the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the UAE and Oman from October 17, by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Notably, the upcoming showpiece evnt will be head coach Ravi Shastri’s last assignment with the Men in Blue.
As per reports, the BCCI is almost done with the criteria for documentation and subsequent support staff and would release an advertisement for the post later this week.
Along with Shastri, contracts of bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar will also expire in November.
India are scheduled to play a full series against New Zealand between November 1 and 17.
“The process of hiring the next support staff will begin this week. The board is looking at releasing the ad on October 14. The board is keen to bring in a new coach during the New Zealand series to get used to it. The dressing room before the team leaves for South Africa in the second week of December,” a top BCCI official was quoted as saying by the Times of India (TOI).
As per reports, the BCCI has asked former India cricketers Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman whether they are interested in the job.
“These are very early stages. Bigger names can be applied for the job. The board will wait to see who will apply and then decide on individuals to follow,” the BCCI official added.
Reports also suggest that former India pacer and current National Cricket Academy (NCA) bowling coach Paras Mhambrey is one of the front-runner to become Team India;s bowling coach.
Commenting on Membre, who has been training youngsters in NCA under its chief Rahul Dravid, the official said: “It would be great if Membre applied for the job. He knows the system well. But the board needs to find out who will take care of the U-1 team because there is not much time to prepare or the U-1 World Cup.”
Meanwhile, the board would also have to look out for fielding and a strength and conditioning coach.
Last week, Team India trainer Nick Webb had also announced to step down from his post of strength and conditioning coach after the upcoming T20 World Cup and will not seek a contract extension.
The New Zealander, who was appointed to the position in 2019, had himself confirmed the development.
“I have recently informed the BCCI that I will not be seeking extension of contract following the Twenty20 World Cup,” Webb had written in a social media post.
Meanwhile, not just the coaches but also current India T20 skipper Virat Kohli will step down after the showpiece event.
Notably in September, Kohli had announced to step down as India’s T20I captain after the upsoming showpiece event.
Taking to the micro-blogging website Twitter, the run-machine had tweeted: “I have given everything to the Team during my time as T20 Captain and I will continue to do so for the T20 Team as a batsman moving forward.”
“Of course, arriving at this decision took a lot of time. After a lot of contemplation and discussions with my close people, Ravi bhai and also Rohit, who have been an essential part of the leadership group, I’ve decided to step down as the T20 Captain after this T20 World Cup in Dubai in October,” he had added.