Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) director of cricket and head coach Kumar Sangakkara has ruled himself out of India men’s cricket team’s head coach race. After Justin Langer, Sangakkara has made his intentions clear. The former Sri Lankan captain also revealed that he hasn’t been approached by anyone for the role.
"I have not been approached and I don't have time to commit full time to Indian coaching job. Happy with my time at Rajasthan Royals," Sangakkara told the reporters after RR’s 36-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Qualifier 2 at MA Chidambaran Stadium, Chennai on May 24.
Sanju Samson-led RR were comprehensively beaten as they failed to chase down the target of 176. Their middle-order batters struggled against the spinners, especially impact player Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma. Apart from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel, no RR batter could make an impact in the run chase.
Langer cautioned by Rahul
Before Sangakkara, Justin Langer ruled out of the possibility of him taking the position in near future. He also revealed that the conversation with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain KL Rahul about politics and pressure involved with the role gave him more clarity about the decision.
Shah’s clarification
Meanwhile, the deadline of applying for the top job draws near. Also, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah clarified that Langer and Ricky Ponting have not been approached for the head coach position.
“Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer," Shah said. "Finding the right coach for our national team is a meticulous and thorough process. We are focused on identifying individuals who possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and have risen through the ranks. It's crucial that our coach has an in-depth knowledge of our domestic cricket framework to truly elevate Team India to the next level."
Gambhir to be India’s next head coach?
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Gautam Gambhir is the frontrunner for the massive role. Current head coach Rahul Dravid’s tenure will end with India’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in the US and West Indies.
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