Gautam Gambhir is in pole position to become India's next head coach, according to media sources on Tuesday, after being the sole applicant for the high-profile position.
The 42-year-old, a flashy left-handed batsman with almost 10,000 international runs in three formats, most recently led the Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title.
Applications for the top job closed on May 27, with Indian media stating that Gambhir was the sole one who applied.
Gambhir retired from cricket in 2018 and entered politics.
In 2019, he was elected to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu-nationalist party as a lawmaker, but he left parliament in March to coach the IPL's Knight Riders.
His interview was scheduled for Tuesday, according to the Indian Express, citing BCCI insiders, who stated that he was the "only candidate to apply." The Times of India referred to him as the "presumed front-runner".
The BCCI, India's cricket governing body, has made no formal remark on the process. Rahul Dravid presently holds the Indian coach post, but it will become vacant after the T20 World Cup because he has decided not to continue.
India is looking for a replacement until the next 50-over World Cup in 2027. India has not won a worldwide trophy since the Champions Trophy in 2013 under their previous foreign coach, Zimbabwe's Duncan Fletcher.
According to local media accounts, Gambhir, former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, and Australians Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer were all considered for the post.
But BCCI secretary Jay Shah denied the accusations, stating that no Australian had been approached with a coaching offer.
