Rating the top applicants for India coach's job

#5 Sandeep Patil : 7.5/10

Sandeep Patil is the incumbent Chief Selector of the selection committee of the BCCI

The incumbent chairman of the Selection Committee of the BCCI, Sandeep Patil has had an accomplished coaching career as well. Being one of the few candidates amongst all the applicants to have coached the Indian cricket team as a full-time head coach in the past, Patil has enjoyed successful coaching stints with Kenya and Oman as well. Patil was at the helm when the Kenyan side made it to the semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, which was held in South Africa. The former cricketer’s stint with India in 1996, however, was an unsuccessful one, as he was removed within six months of his appointment.

Thereafter, apart from his terms with Kenya and Oman as their head coach, Patil has also served as the chairman of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. He was also approached by the BCCI in 2005 to coach the national side once again but opted not to undertake the responsibility, owing to his commitments with the Oman cricket team. Since September 2012, Patil has been the chairman of the selection committee and is term is due to end in September this year.

Confirming about his application for the job of the head coach, Patil told ESPN Cricinfo, “I am passionate about coaching. When I retired from cricket, I coached Madhya Pradesh, India Under-19, India 'A' and then India. I also had stints with Kenya and Oman which were very satisfying. I have something more to offer in terms of coaching. I have always felt my coaching career was half done and what better than to do it for my country.” Patil played 29 Tests and 45 ODIs for India, between 1980 and 1986 and was also a part of the team that won the Cricket World Cup in 1983.