Why BCCI is making delay to announce Gautam Gambhir as Team India head coach?

Team India head coach Rahul Dravid’s tenure has ended after the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2024. It was expected that Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will announce the name of the head coach of the Indian team soon after the completion of the marquee event.

A second-string Indian team has travelled to Zimbabwe for a 5-match T20I series. However, the head of National Cricket Academy (NCA) VVS Laxman is filling in the vacant head coach role temporarily. BCCI has already interviewed two candidates for the job - Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman-with Gambhir expected to take up the role.

The new head coach is expected to be put in charge from the Sri Lanka series onwards. However, the delay in the announcement has baffled several fans and experts.

As per reports published in some section of media, the delay in the official announcement is due to the ongoing salary negotiation between Gambhir and BCCI.

Along with Dravid, the tenure of his coaching staff, including batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip has ended.

Following Gambhir’s official appointment, BCCI will start working on the process of hiring other coaches too and Gambhir will be given a free hand as far as the selection support staff is concerned.