The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Jay Shah has made it clear that the board hasn’t approached any former Australian cricketers to take up the role of the head coach of the Indian Men’s team, that is set to be vacated by Rahul Dravid post the T20 World Cup in June.

Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer have recently spoken about turning down offers to coach the Indian Men’s team but Shah has denied any such approach from anyone in the BCCI.

“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,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement on May 24 (Friday). 

“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.

“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.”

Dravid took over the reins from Ravi Shastri post the T20 World Cup in 2021, but the former India skipper looks certain to walk away from the role once his contract expires next month. Gautam Gambhir and Stephen Fleming’s names have also been mentioned in multiple reports. 

Recently speaking on BBC’s Stumped podcast, Langer said: “I was talking to KL Rahul (the captain at Lucknow Super Giants, where Langer is the head coach) 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.”

Meanwhile, Ponting told ICC: “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.”

According to the BCCI, the deadline for applications is May 27.

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