Indian Cricket Team is facing a transition immediately after the victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The World-Cup winning coach Rahul Dravid has decided to not continue coaching Team India any further and hence he is replaced by Gautam Gambhir, who will be the new head coach of Team India. Gautam Gambhir was rewarded for his successful stint as captain and mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. He has also worked as mentor of Lucknow Super Giants and did well for them too.  Gambhir will oversee the transition of Team India as seniors are now eventually set to make place for the new ones who will lead the next generation. Gambhir has also made the conditions of him taking up the job clear to BCCI.  Gautam Gambhir Sets His Priorities As Team India Men’s New Head Coach.

Gambhir has already communicated to the BCCI that he will be having the support staff according to his own choice. There is a need to have a good rapport and trust between the head coach and the support staff to run a successful team and in this case it is no different. Reports have revealed a few names Gambhir has requested to BCCI for his backroom team and in this article we will look at those potential candidates who can be the Team India support staff for the next tenure.

1. Abhishek Nayar:

Abhishek Nayar has done some really good work at Kolkata Knight Riders and worked together with Gautam Gambhir in IPL 2024 when Gambhir was the team's mentor. Nayar has helped players like Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh and Venkatesh Iyer grow as a coach and Gambhir reportedly wants Nayar to be the Team India batting coach as his expertise can really help the players.

2. Zaheer Khan:

In order to win Test series overseas, India will need the support of a shrewd bowling coach like Bharat Arun who helped India win Test series in Australia with his expertise. Anticipating a need, one of the names that are rumoured to be part of Gautam Gambhir's group of support staff is none other than Zaheer Khan. The veteran Indian seamer has experience of playing across several nations and the idea to how to work out wickets even in the most adverse situations. He is a potential candidate to be Team India bowling coach.

3. Jonty Rhodes:

Although BCCI is happy with the work of fielding coach T Dilip and wants to reward him by allowing him to continue, it is entirely not sure whether he would be able to continue. Gautam Gambhir previously had former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes as the fielding coach in Lucknow Super Giants. He is an admirer of Jonty's work and in case Dilip doesn't continue, Rhodes might be the new fielding coach of Team India.

4. Ryan ten Doeschate:

One of the cricketers Gambhir had admitted having the trust on since his playing days in Netherlands cricketer Ryan ten Doeschate. The duo reunited as coaches of KKR in 2024 and had a great time together winning the IPL. Now reports suggest that Gambhir wants Doeschate in the support staff group as well as a special assistant coach. If the recruitment happens, an overseas cricketer will be added in the coaching staff after a long time.

5. Vinay Kumar:

Not only Zaheer Khan, but another veteran who has emerged as a candidate for bowling coach is R Vinay Kumar. Vinay Kumar has been a consistent performer in the domestics and he has led Karnataka to multiple Ranji Trophy titles. He knows the domestic circuit inside out and the problems bowlers have coming into the national team. His experience makes him a candidate for the new bowling coach of Team India. Jaques Kallis Emerges As One of the Possible Candidates to Replace Gautam Gambhir At KKR: Report.

6. Lakshmipathy Balaji:

Lakshmipathy Balaji has recently ended his association as the support staff of Chennai Super Kings and now it has been reported that Gautam Gambhir wants him in Team India as the bowling coach. Balaji has been a trusted deputy of Gambhir in KKR and won a big part in KKR winning the IPL title in 2012 under Gambhir's captaincy. He has experience of working as bowling coach in IPL teams and might succeed Paras Mhambrey as the next bowling coach of Team India.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 11, 2024 06:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).