Internet Desk: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has set a deadline for June 10 to invite applications for the post of head coach and assistant coach for Indian cricket team. BCCI has decided to advertise for the position.
“We will advertise for the post of coach today and by June 10 anyone can apply and shortlisting will be done after that,” said newly-elected BCCI President Anurag Thakur at the BCCI headquarters. “We are keeping it open, we want people to come. They can come forward, apply and then we can look at the proposals, who are the applicants and who are best for BCCI,” he added.
The announcement means the Indian team will be without the services of a full-time coach on its short tour of Zimbabwe beginning June 11. However, the coach appointment is expected to be made before the team travels to the West Indies in July for a four-match Test series.
According to sources, a second string team would be sent for the tour of Zimbabwe. The senior players
will have the option of taking a break by opting out of the series which will feature 3 ODIs and 2 Twenty20s.
Seniors like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin and Shikhar Dhawan may be rested for the tour of Zimbabwe.
Suresh Raina may lead the squad for the tour of Zimbabwe if Virat Kohli decides to take a break. Ajinkya Rahane’s name can also be discussed to lead the side.
Murali Vijay and KL Rahul could take in the opener’s slot. While Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey , Ambati Rayudu, Mayank Agarwal and Ravindra Jadeja can take up the middle order batsmen slot. Harbhajan Singh along with Yuzuvendra Chahal and Krunal Pandya are likely to be the spinners in the side. The seamers will include Hardik Pandya, Md Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah. If the selectors decide to send in an extra wicket keeper then there will be a toss-up between Wriddhiman Saha and Sanju Samson.
Seasoned campaigner Yuvraj Singh may be included for the T20 squad.
As far as the test squad is concerned there will not be much chopping and changes.
Former India captain and BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee member Sourav Ganguly said that the
Board will take another couple of months to find a suitable candidate for the high-profile position. “It will happen in the next couple of months. I am not too sure if it happens before the Zimbabwe tour because it is not too far away,” said Ganguly, who is on the advisory panel, alongside Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.
Probable’s (ODI squad for Zimbabwe Tour): Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina(C), Manish Pandey, Ambati Rayudu, Mayank Agarwal, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Harbhajan Singh, Yuzuvendra Chahal, Krunal Pandya, Md Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sanju Samson/Wriddhiman Saha
Probable’s (T20 squad for Zimbabwe Tour): Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina( C), Yuvraj Singh, Manish Pandey, Wriddhiman Saha/Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya,Ravindra Jadeja,Yuzuvendra Chahal, Harbhajan Singh, Md. Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah.
Probable’s ( Test squad for West Indies Tour): Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Md Shami, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul and Naman Ojha