'If Gautam Gambhir takes the job it's...': BCCI president Roger Binny on Rahul Dravid's replacement as Team India head coach

NEW DELHI: With India's second T20 World Cup title victory in Barbados, Rahul Dravid's tenure as the head coach of the team is coming to an end, leading the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to evaluate potential replacements.

BCCI president Roger Binny mentioned that former opener Gautam Gambhir could be a good fit for the role of head coach due to his extensive experience.

Speculation about Gambhir stepping into the role has gained traction, with many former players voicing their support. Gambhir, a 2011 World Cup winner, has expressed his interest, stating he would "love to coach the Indian team" and it would be an honor for him. However, he has remained reserved about the likelihood of replacing his former teammate Dravid.

Binny emphasized the importance of having a coach with comprehensive playing experience in all cricket formats.

"Gautam Gambhir has got a lot of experience and if he takes the job it's definitely going to be a good thing for Indian cricket. He is experienced, that's what India needs. India needs a coach who played the game, and he has played in all three formats of the game," Binny told ANI.

Under Dravid's leadership, the Indian team made notable advances, making it to the finals of the ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship last year, although they were defeated by Australia in both finals. Dravid's guidance was instrumental in ending India's 11-year ICC title drought with their 2024 T20 World Cup win, showcasing the team's unity and methodical strategies.

"Rahul as a cricketer has been fantastic. His contribution to the team has been tremendous because of the experience he brought to the table ... he really did a fantastic job with them. It's just unfortunate that he lost a few games, he lost the last World Cup," Binny remarked.

Following the World Cup victory, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from T20 internationals. Binny acknowledged their significant contributions to the team and the challenge of finding their replacements.

"They have been outstanding...it is going to be very difficult to replace them immediately...it is going to be a great loss at the moment. Hopefully, we should get some young cricketers, the IPL is full of talent. It's not going to be easy but we can try and get some young cricketers to do what they have done," he added.

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