The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) reportedly interviewed Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman for 40 minutes each on Tuesday as part of the selection process for India’s head coach role. Both former India openers provided satisfactory responses to the questions posed by CAC members Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik. The interviews were conducted virtually, as Gambhir and Raman opted for online interviews.

Despite his busy commentary schedule, CAC chairman Malhotra participated in the process. According to news agency PTI, Gambhir is the leading candidate for the head coach position, and the BCCI will hold another round of discussions on Wednesday before making the official announcement.

“Gambhir was interviewed by the CAC today, and the first round of discussions took place. Another round is anticipated to occur tomorrow,” stated a BCCI source.

The details of his discussion with CAC members Malhotra, Paranjape, and Naik were unclear. However, it is known that Paranjape and Naik, who are based in Mumbai, were part of the conversation. The discussion was believed to have centered around his three-year strategic plan, which includes three ICC tournaments spanning various formats.

According to sources, Raman and Gambhir delivered impressive presentations outlining their strategies to win ICC trophies. The CAC members were highly impressed by their proposals, but the decision is expected to favor Gambhir.

“Following Gambhir’s interview, Raman also presented his plans. During the 40-minute session, Raman spoke about his vision and roadmap for Indian cricket. The interview began with some initial questions from the committee before they reviewed his presentation,” the source admitted.

The new head coach will be responsible for guiding India through the annual ICC white-ball tournaments and the World Test Championship from July 2024 to November 2027. Gautam Gambhir’s successful mentorship of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL 2024 title boosts his coaching credentials, but he lacks substantial coaching experience beyond the IPL.

Gambhir’s appointment would differ from Rahul Dravid’s path, as Dravid progressed through the coaching ranks with the India U19 and A teams before transitioning to the international level.