Former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram has spoken about the rumors of Gautam Gambhir taking over as the head coach of Team India after Rahul Dravid. He said the Kolkata Knight Riders mentor is the best candidate for the job but asserted that the left-hander must take the call as it is a time-consuming job.
The Indian head coach’s job is up for grabs and one of the leading candidates who is considered the favorite to take over the job is Gautam Gambhir. There have also been several reports that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approached the Kolkata Knight Riders mentor.
Gautam Gambhir, known as an aggressive player during his playing days, still has the same mentality even after working as a coach for Indian Premier League teams. He mentored Lucknow Super Giants for two seasons before taking up the same role for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024.
Gautam Gambhir guided the Lucknow Super Giants to two playoffs and also achieved the same with Kolkata Knight Riders. His coaching style has been appreciated by everyone as it allows players to be brave and bring out the best in them.
With India struggling to win the ICC title since 2013, many feel that Gautam Gambhir, who won two World Cups for India, could be a perfect successor to Rahul Dravid and could also help the Indian team win high-pressure games. .
Wasim Akram, while talking about the same, stated that Gautam Gambhir is an intelligent person and will bring the quality that is not part of the Indian team. While he highlighted the aggressive nature of the KKR mentor, he said he would bring the same aggression with him. Speaking to Sportskeeda, he explained:
“Yes, he is the best candidate. It depends on whether Gautam accepts it. He has also abandoned politics because it took him too long. It is a job that requires a lot of time. He is a very intelligent person and he realized that it is not easy. He has two lovely daughters. GG is very simple. Straight. He is not a difficult person. But he speaks clearly and bluntly and doesn’t think twice, a quality that is not part of Indian cricket culture.
“In our culture, we say things that don’t offend people. But GG is someone who, if he doesn’t like something, will say it to your face. That’s his quality and that’s why everyone likes him. “He gets aggressive at times, but that’s who he is as a person. He will bring the same aggression to the team, but it all comes down to whether he accepts the role.”
Ashish Nehra has done well: Wasim Akram on other Indian head coach candidates
Wasim Akram also spoke about the other potential candidates for the head coach position of Team India. He feels that Ashish Nehra could also serve well as he is a people person. He also spoke about VVS Laxman, NCA director. He added:
“I’ve heard other names too. They have a lot of experience. [Ashish] Nehra has done well; He is a person of the people. Everyone loves him; They want to be close to him. And Laxman is another very good option. He is the director of the NCA, where Dravid came from after serving as India’s under-19 coach.
“So, they have a system. If you ask me, any of these three Indians is a good option. Stick with your own people. They have done well. Rahul did brilliantly and before him, Ravi [Shastri] had set an example. So yes,” He concluded.
