Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has said he has declined the offer to become Team India’s new head coach owing to his present lifestyle. The BCCI is currently looking for a new head coach as Rahul Dravid will be stepping down from the post next month after the conclusion of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

The board has already advertised for the post and the deadline to submit the applications is on May 27. Unlike last time when Rahul Dravid was pretty much the favourite to replace Ravi Shastri even before the official appointment, there is very little clarity over who would be the new coach this time around.

As of now, several candidates are in fray although there is no clear favourite at the moment. As per reports, the likes of Stephen Fleming and Gautam Gambhir are in contention to replace Dravid as the head coach. Both the former cricketers are currently involved with different IPL franchises.

While Fleming is the head coach of Chennai Super Kings, Gambhir is plying his trade as a mentor for Kolkata Knight Riders. Interestingly, neither Fleming nor Gambhir has coached any international team so far. Fleming has been CSK’s coach since 2009. In 2016 and 2017 when CSK were suspended, he was the head coach of the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant.

Fleming has a stunning record in the IPL as a coach and the BCCI is reportedly interested in him. During his tenure, CSK have won a record five IPL titles as well as two titles in the now-defunct Champions League T20. Rising Pune Supergiant also qualified for the final in 2017 when Fleming was their head coach. Fleming is known for his man-management skills and many believe that such a personality will auger well with the Indian dressing room full of superstars.

Gambhir, on the other hand, has been associated with the IPL as a mentor from the past three seasons. In the last two seasons of the IPL, he was the mentor of Lucknow Super Giants. In both the seasons, LSG made it to the playoffs before failing to do it this year. Gambhir joined Kolkata Knight Riders for the ongoing IPL season and the Kolkata-based outfit has stormed into the finals.

Gambhir is known for his no nonsense approach and has a reputation of delivery at the big stage. He was the highest run-scorer in the final when India won the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup. He also led KKR to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. According to reports, the BCCI has already contacted Gambhir and a more concrete discussion is expected to take once the IPL ends.

Ricky Ponting declines BCCI’s offer:

Ricky Ponting, who is currently the head coach of Delhi Capitals, has revealed that he was approached by the BCCI to become India’s head coach but he has decided against it. The former cricketer stated that while he would love to become the coach of a national team, he would not accept the proposal as of now in order to spend more time with his family at home.

Ponting also said that being a national coach would stop him from coaching in the IPL and he does not want to do that at the moment. The legendary batter further highlighted the names of the candidates who are currently linked with the job such as Fleming, Gambhir as well as his former teammate Justin Langer.

“I’ve seen a lot of reports about it. Normally these things pop up on social media before you even know about them, but there were a few little one-on-one conversations during the IPL, just to get a level of interest from me as to whether I would do it,” Ponting told ICC.

“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…everyone knows if you take a job working with the Indian team you can’t be involved in an IPL team, so it would take that out of it as well.

“Also, 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.

“I’ve seen a few other names thrown about as well. Justin Langer’s name got thrown in yesterday, Stephen Fleming’s name has been thrown about a little bit. Gautam Gambhir’s name has been thrown around a little bit the last couple of days as well. But I think it’d be unlikely for me just on the reasons that I’ve given there,” he said.

Rahul Dravid’s tenure so far:

Rahul Dravid has had a fine tenure as the India head coach so far. He took charge of the Indian team as a head coach in 2021 by replacing Ravi Shastri. His original contract came to an end after the ODI World Cup in November last year but the BCCI convinced him to extend his stay till the T20 World Cup.

While Dravid had the opportunity to apply for the post once again, the former India skipper decided against it in order to spend time with his family.

Under Dravid, India did well in the bilateral series but struggled to end their long wait for an ICC trophy. India rose to the top of the rankings in both Tests and ODIs. In 2022, they lost the semifinal of the T20 World Cup against eventual winners England. In 2023, India beat the likes of New Zealand and Sri Lanka in white-ball series at home before getting the better of Australia in Tests.

Later, India suffered another defeat in the ICC World Test Championship final. Having lost the inaugural final against New Zealand, they had the chance to make amends for it in 2023 but ended up losing the title-decider against Australia.

In the same year, the Men in Blue won the Asia Cup before displaying a stunning brand of cricket in the ODI World Cup. The Rohit Sharma-led side blew teams away during the World Cup and stormed into the final where they suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Australia.

It was followed by a fine outing in South Africa where India drew the T20I and the Test series and won the ODI series. Earlier this year, India came back from behind to win the five-match Test series at home against England. After losing the first Test, the hosts won the next four games to clinch the series in style. India are currently at the top of the points table in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle and if somehow the men in blue manage to clinch the title, it is going to be a big cricket news for all the fans out there.

Dravid will have the opportunity to bow out on a high by guiding India to a win in the upcoming T20 World Cup. India are one of the favourites to win the title and will be desperate to go all the way this year.

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