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Amid reports of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) approaching the former Australian cricketers including Delhi Capitals Head Coach Ricky Ponting and Lucknow Super Giants boss Justin Langer to take up India's Head Coach role, BCCI secretary Jay Shah cleared the air and stated that "neither he nor the BCCI" have approached the former Aussie cricketers with a coaching offer.
The tenure of the current India Head Coach Rahul Dravid will end after the T20 World Cup 2024 in June. The BCCI has set a deadline of May 27 for the prospective candidates to apply for India’s head coach role.
Former Australian skipper and current Delhi Capitals Head Coach, Ricky Ponting, earlier confirmed that the BCCI approached him to take the coaching offer, however, he turned that down as it "doesn’t fit into his lifestyle currently." Apart from him, Justin Langer, who is the Lucknow Super Giants Head Coach, also turned down the offer after a piece of advice from LSG skipper KL Rahul.
Amid the reports of approaching the Aussies, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement, "Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer. The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect."
“Finding the right coach for our national team is a meticulous and thorough process. We are focused on identifying individuals who possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and have risen through the ranks. It’s crucial that our coach has an in-depth knowledge of our domestic cricket framework to truly elevate Team India to the next level."
Jay Shah added, "When we talk about international cricket, no role is more prestigious than that of the Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Team India commands the largest fan base globally, enjoying support that is truly unrivalled. Our rich history, passion for the game make this one of the most lucrative jobs in the world. The role demands a high level of professionalism as one gets to nurture some of the best cricketers in the world and an assembly line of talented cricketers to follow. Catering to the aspirations of a billion fans is a huge honour and the BCCI will pick the right candidate, capable of propelling Indian cricket forward."
On India's coaching role, Ponting said, "I'd love to be a senior coach of a national team, but with the other things that I have in my life and wanting to have a bit of time at home... A national head coach is a 10 or 11-month-of-the-year job, and as much as I'd like to do it, it just doesn't fit into my lifestyle right now and the things that I really enjoy doing."
On the other hand, Langer said, "I was talking to KL Rahul and he said, ‘You know, if you think there’s pressure and politics in an IPL team, multiply that by a thousand, (that’s) coaching India. That was a good bit of advice, I guess."
