As speculation swirls around Gautam Gambhir potentially becoming Team India’s next head coach, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Chandrakant Pandit has expressed his interest in the high-profile job after winning the IPL 2024.
Gambhir’s mentorship did wonders for the KKR, ending the team’s decade-long wait for the IPL trophy, and it bolstered the former Indian opener’s chances to replace Rahul Dravid as head of the Indian cricket team, as the latter’s tenure is set to end after the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Following KKR’s successful IPL 2024 campaign, Gambhir has been ruling the headlines, with many former cricketers backing the twin World Cup winner for the demanding job at the BCCI. However, another name also circulating in the media was Pandit, but he did apply for the top role because of an unfortunate reason.
Chandrakant Pandit has a rich record as a coach in domestic cricket
It is important to note that Gambhir served as a mentor for KKR, not as the head coach, whose role was filled by Pandit, a highly respected figure in the Indian coaching arena. His illustrious coaching career includes being the only Indian head coach besides Ashish Nehra to have won an IPL title.
Furthermore, the KKR head coach has an impressive record in domestic cricket, having won the Ranji Trophy in Mumbai (2002–03, 2003–04, 2015–16), twice with Vidarbha (2016–17, 2017–18), and with Madhya Pradesh in 2022 on six occasions. He has an IPL title on his CV.
Despite Pandit’s credentials, age restrictions have hindered his eligibility for the Indian team’s head coach position. Speaking on Sports Today, Pandit expressed his interest in the role but acknowledged that he does not meet the BCCI’s criteria, which requires applicants to be under 60 years old.
Amidst speculations endorsing Pandit as one of the frontrunner candidates for the Indian cricket team’s head coach role, the KKR head coach has revealed his interest in the top position. However, the BCCI’s age-related criteria have dashed his aspirations to coach the Men in Blue.
Chandrakant Pandit expresses interest in India’s head coach role, but age criteria blocks path
Pandit expressed his disappointment that he was not eligible to apply for India’s next head coach role while emphasizing his dedication to Indian cricket’s development through his extensive involvement in domestic cricket.
Well, in the advertisement, the BCCI made it mandatory for all the applicants to be under 60, making the 62-year-old Pandit ineligible for the role, despite his wealth of experience and accolades.
Chandrakant Pandit was quoted as saying by Sports Today: “This season I thought about it, but unfortunately, the criteria do not permit me. I would have been happy, obviously, to take up the job. I feel why not. Ultimately, to develop Indian cricket, I am looking after so much state cricket, and at the same time, why not also look at Indian cricket?”
Well, the deadline for applications set by the BCCI has passed on May 27, and still no name has been revealed by the world’s richest cricket body for the job. It is being said that prominent overseas coaches, like Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, Andy Flower, and Kumar Sangakkara, have publicly declared that they are not interested in the Indian team’s head coach position.
