Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has voiced his support for Gautam Gambhir to take on the role of head coach for the Indian cricket team, endorsing him as the most suitable candidate to succeed Rahul Dravid.
Akram’s endorsement comes amidst reports suggesting that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approached three prominent international coaches: Stephen Fleming, Ricky Ponting, and Justin Langer.
Speaking on a YouTube channel, the legendary fast bowler expressed, “Yeah, he is the best candidate. It depends on whether Gautam accepts it. He has also left politics because it took too much time. It is a time-consuming job. He is a very intelligent person, so he realized it’s not easy.”
Gautam Gambhir, known for his tenacious batting and leadership skills, has been actively involved in coaching and commentary since his retirement. He led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2012 and 2014.
Meanwhile, the BCCI’s search for Dravid’s successor has led them to consider Fleming, Ponting, and Langer, each bringing a wealth of experience and a distinct coaching style to the table.
Fleming, renowned for his success with the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, Ponting, a two-time World Cup-winning captain, and Langer, who recently led Australia to an Ashes victory, are all formidable contenders.
Currently, Gambhir serves as a mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. With his extensive coaching experience, he emerges as a strong candidate for the role after the T20 World Cup.
India is scheduled to commence their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York, foregoing any practice matches.
