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Come Sunday, Indian cricket will witness its biggest soap opera as the apex cricketing body BCCI in its working committee meeting will discuss the probables of the next coach for the Indian cricket team. Who will be the successor of Duncan Fletcher? All kinds of names are already flying around freely in the airwaves. The head coach of Indian cricket team is a top notch job in the cricketing world, as a billion dreams and hopes is singularly rested upon this man. It is not just about being an armchair critic or mentoring the team in technical aspects; it is more about standing by the thicks and thins when the team is going through a rough patch and helping the players individually to deliver their best each time they go out to play.The current coach Duncan Fletcher’s four-year contract expired with the World Cup and as often been stated, he is unlikely to push for a renewal. After India’s dismal overseas performance under the Zimbabwean, the Board and the well-wishers alike feel it is time to bring in a fresh face. For the past fifteen years, no Indian was at the helm of affairs as the team’s coach, which could now well be a factor taken into consideration. The current captains- MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli will also be voicing in their opinions.With speculations going rife, it is high time to come up with a thoughtful list of top contenders whose names are already making rounds and can realistically be considered for the pivotal role in shaping the future of Indian cricket.
#1 Sourav Ganguly
The God of off-side left that part of the cricket field for the heavens to rule once he retired. Revolutionary Indian captain Saurav Dada Ganguly changed the fortunes of the countrys religiously followed game when he was at the helm of affairs.
The stylish southpaw took over as captain when Indian cricket was stuck under the debris ofmatch-fixing scandals in 2000. He upped the ante and the spirit of his boys and helped the team conquerseveral parts of the cricketing world through his aggressive and astute leadership skills. It cannot be denied that it was Ganguly who installed the killer-instinct into the Indian team.
The Prince of Kolkata has had his share in the wrongs as well by picking up a famous feud with his coach Greg Chappel, but that can be sidelined given his remarkable commitment to the team. His never-say-die attitude is what Team India needs at the moment. And with Jagmohan Dalmiya recently assuming the office ofBCCI President, who is another Bengali asGanguly, the latters possibility only inflates.
"I am hearing this for the first time.I don't want to say anything on this. Let's not speculate. Don't jump the gun," Ganguly snubbedwhen questioned about his coaching interests.
#2 Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid is a perfect gentleman eliciting reasons enough to have played the gentlemans game. Rightly nicknamed as The Wall, Dravid literally carried the Indian team single-handedlywhenever the team found itself in dire straits during his days. He was the vanguard of Indian batting for ages together.
The classy right-handed batsmanis the second best for India in Tests andisone of the most loved cricketers too. The kind of perseverance and patience he demonstrated with his willow will remain unmatched for. In terms of being flexible for the team, Dravid is second to none. There is nothing he hasnt done for Indian cricket, be it captaining the side orwicket-keeping when called upon or playing at any position offered toand as Harsha Bhogle once remarked, The only thing Dravid hasnt done for Indian cricket is walk on water.
Now that Virat Kohli, who is an aggressive person, is touted be the next-big-thing in Indian cricket, somebody like Dravid who would keep the composure lowand emotions in check canbe a great value addition to the Indian dressing room. Hehas already proved his mettle as a coachwith his IPL team Rajasthan Royals. He is one candidate whom even the critics would favor foran appointment.
#3 Ravi Shastri
After Team Indias ludicrous performance in the Test series during the English summer last year, Duncan Fletchers role in the team took severe pounding and immediately thereafter former Indian batsmanRavi Shastri was appointed as the teams directorjust ahead of the ODI series which India went on to do exceedingly well.
His influence on the boys came soon to the fore as the Indian teamenjoyed a seven-match winning streak in this yearsWorld Cupbefore being eliminated by Australia in the semi-finals. His briefservice was in for great praise by the youngsters in the team as they considered him to be highly motivational.His team director contract expired with the World Cup and he has been in the running for the coachs position ever since. It is not a mistake to speculate that the team directors post might even be scrapped should Shastribe appointed as the coach.
Ravi Shastri has immense playing experience behind him and has been associated with the Indian team in one or the other since his retirement. He was said to bephlegmatic in dealing his detractors during his playing days and taking both positives and negatives in his stride. Ironically, he is also famous for his high-octane works with the microphone. Besides all these, his rapport with the current team pitches him as a strong contender for the job opening.
#4 Michael Hussey
Mr.Cricket is a sobriquet that is stuck toMike Hussey,a cricketer who has an encyclopedic knowledge about the game. He struggled for ten years in the domestic scene before he broke into the international side. The proflific left-handed batsman ruled the Australian middle-order for years then and is hailed even today for his incredible consistency. He retired in early 2013 from international cricket.
It was rumoured that Dhoni had recommended Husseys name for the coaching jobas the former has played with the Australian for CSK in IPL. True it may be that picking anAustralian again as coaching staff might not go down well with the Indian contingent given Greg Chappels shade of controversies,Hussey though is a class apart.
During his playing careerhe wasknown to be scrupulous during practice sessions and has showngreat work ethics on the field. His long struggle to make it big vouches for the tenacious person that he is which countsas a pre-requisite for the coaching job. He hasnt had any full-time coaching experience so far, but withhim offering guidance to the South African side during the recently concluded cricket World Cup, it wont be a bad idea to check his readiness to coach the Indian side.
#5 Jason Gillespie
The tall and curly-haired Australian speedsterJason Gillespie may not have the adulation that his peersGlenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Brett Lee enjoy among the Indian localsbut his sharp cricketing skills are there to speakfor him. Gillespie, after hanging his bowling boots, briefly coached the young players in Zimbabwe.
His actual coaching career began with his assignment at the most successful team in English county,Yorkshire. The menacing fast-bowler, who boasts of 400 plus international wickets, was appointed at Yorkshire after their relegation in 2011.However, Gillespies clarity of communication, sharp tactical brain and ability to hit it off with the players turned the tides fabulously for the historic county club.
Under Gillespies tenure Yorkshire won two country championship in three years and this prompted the English Cricket Board to consider him for their national teams coaching position. He is currently coaching the Australian domestic team,Adelaide Strikers. His name has been making rounds now in the Indian circle too.
