Kolkata: Apart from India’s splendid performance in the Champions Trophy, the coach selection saga has been the other thing that has continuously made the news in Indian cricket of late. We now know that Anil Kumble has re-applied for the job and former Indian opener Sehwag too, is now an applicant for the post.
However, a new development in this episode is that Indian skipper Virat Kohli before flying to England for the Champions Trophy, had met Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman-two members of the Cricket Advisory Committee to consider former team director Ravi Shastri’s candidature for the post. He also requested them to include Shashtri in the interview process.
Ravi Shastri, for that matter hasn’t applied for the job and is unlikely to be interviewed by the CAC comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, according to sources.
The list of candidates likely to be interviewed by the three member Cricket Advisory Committee are- Tom Moody, Richard Pybus, Anil Kumble and Virender Sehwag. They also might interview the other two Indians in the list of applicants- Lalchand Rajput and Dodda Ganesh for the post.
The interview process may begin in the evening after the India-Sri Lanka Champions Trophy match on Thursday or it can even happen on Friday. A source said, “The interview process would start from either Thursday evening or Friday onwards. The CAC would meet the candidates individually and take the call later.”
The ongoing coach appointment saga has been one big episode in Indian cricket. As of now, a three way contest is what it looks like with the three serious contenders for the top job- Anil Kumble, Virender Sehwag and Tom Moody.
Whoever gets appointed for the job at the end, would have to match high expectations as coaching one of the best sides in world cricket isn’t easy at all.
(With inputs from The Times of India)