- Nishant Kr Azad-
Ravi Shastri (Age: 54 Test: 80 ODIs: 150
Experience: Indian team director from August 2014-April 2016)
The leading contender amongst the applicants, former team India director Ravi Shastri who has applied for the post of the head coach has plenty to offer as the full-time coach of Indian cricket team. Having served as the Team Director for a period close to two years – from July 2014 to April 2016 – Shastri has an inside-out know-how of the affairs of Indian cricket team. He has also built long lasting relationships with the Indian skippers Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli.
The achievements such as winning the Asia Cup and making it to the semi-finals of the ICC World T20 2016 as well as the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 present him in good stead, and he may very well be handed over the reins of the team as a full-time coach.
A potent all-rounder, Shastri has played 80 Tests and 150 ODIs for India. The 54-year-old’s long-term involvement with the BCCI and his acquaintance with the current crop of Indian cricketers surely makes him a definite contender for the position.
Sandeep Patil (Age: 59 Test: 25 ODIs: 45
Experience: Former coach of India A, Kenya & Oman; NCA director, current selection commitee head)
Another top contender for the post is Sandeep Patil, who has had an accomplished coaching career. Patil has
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 World Cup 2003, which was held in South Africa.
Apart from his terms with Kenya and Oman as their head coach, Patil has also served as the chairman of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) 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 his term is due to end in September this year.
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.
Stuart Law (Age: 47 Test: 01 ODIs: 54
Experience: Former coach of Bangladesh &
Sri Lanka)
Former Australian middle-order batsman Stuart Law is one of the most high-profile foreign applicants to have expressed their interest to coach India team. Law has had successful stints with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Cricket team. He was appointed as the assistant coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team for a term of two years (2009-2011) and was elevated to the position of the head coach the following year.
After that he moved to Bangladesh. Law has enough experience of the sub-continental conditions having worked with two of the major sub-continental nations. He is currently serving as the batting
consultant of the Australian cricket team to prepare them for their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka in August 2016.
Anil Kumble (Age: 45 Test: 132 ODIs: 271
Experience: Mentored two IPL franchises, chaired the NCA and ICC cricket commitee, and president of KSCA)
Being one of the prominent Indian cricketers to have applied for the role, Kumble can get the nod of the BCCI’s cricket committee and could be the next coach of the Indian cricket team.
The most prolific spin bowler Anil Kumble’s have experience of mentoring the two IPL winner teams– the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Mumbai Indians– has held him in good stead for one of the most sought after positions in Indian cricket.
In addition to that, Kumble is also the Chairman of the Cricket Committee of the International Cricket Council. With 619 Test wickets from 132 Tests and 337 ODI wickets from 271 fifty-over internationals to his name and experience of playing international cricket for 18 years, Kumble has ample experience of the Indian conditions.
The 45-year-old veteran’s reputation and his sheer knowledge of the game can be very handy to this young generation of Indian cricketers. The former leg spinner is no stranger to overseas conditions as well, and being the most successful Indian spinner on foreign shores, Kumble would also be able to ail the Indian spinners’ frailties away from the subcontinent.
Venkatesh Prasad (Age: 46 Test: 33 ODIs: 161
Experience: India’s bowling coach, U-19 coach, coach of Karnatka & UP, CSK bowling coach)
India’s one of the promising medium pacers in the past, Venkatesh Prasad is among the frontrunner list who can be the coach of Indian Cricket team. Prasad, who played 33 Tests and 161 ODIs, began coaching in 2006. His experience as India’s bowling coach for two years, coach of the Under-19 team, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh as well as in the IPL could work as an advantage. In 2013, he applied for the post of Sri Lanka’s head coach.
