While recent reports indicated that newly-appointed India head coach Gautam Gambhir would be given free rein to choose the members of his support staff, BCCI seems to have different plans.

Earlier this week, the BCCI announced that former India opener Gautam Gambhir will be the new coach of the team. He replaced Rahul Dravid, whose tenure ended last month after Team India’s victory in the T20 World Cup.

Along with Dravid, Vikram Rathour (batting coach), Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach) and T. Dilip (fielding coach) have also parted ways with the team. With Gautam Gambhir confirmed as the head coach, the BCCI will soon appoint other support staff members such as batting, bowling and fielding coaches.

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, T Dilip could continue as India’s fielding coach, despite the BCCI recently declaring that his tenure has come to an end. Typically, the BCCI allows the head coach to choose his own support staff.

And while Gautam Gambhir will definitely have a big say in the appointment of the new members of the support squad, things have not started well. The former India batsman has already faced rejection from the board after showing interest in working with former India batsman Vinay Kumar as a bowling coach.

BCCI rejects Gautam Gambhir once again:

The report also stated that the BCCI has also rejected the choice of Gautam Gambhir for the post of fielding coach. The Indian head coach wanted the legendary Jonty Rhodes as the new fielding coach but the BCCI has other plans.

Although Rhodes is one of the best, if not the best, fielders to have graced the game and has worked with Gambhir in the IPL, the BCCI is not very keen on hiring a foreigner for the support staff. The BCCI has been hiring only Indian support staff for the last seven years and is keen to put an end to the trend. As a result, T Dilip has emerged as the favourite to become the fielding coach again.