Jay Shah denies contacting former Australian cricketer for Indian team’s coaching role

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, Jay Shah, denied contacting any former Australian cricketer for the position of head coach for the national team earlier today, a day after Ricky Ponting claimed to have had a one-to-one discussion regarding the Indian Cricket Team’s head coach position with board officials at Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

"I've seen a lot of reports about it," Ponting told the ICC Review. "Normally these things pop up on social media before you even know about them, but there were a few little one-on-one conversations during the IPL, just to get a level of interest from me as to whether I would do it.

"I'd love to be a senior coach of a national team, but with the other things that I have in my life and wanting to have a bit of time at home…everyone knows if you take a job working with the Indian team you can't be involved in an IPL team, so it would take that out of it as well.

"Also, a national head coach is a 10 or 11-month of the year job, and as much as I'd like to do it, it just doesn't fit into my lifestyle right now and the things that I really enjoy doing."

However, Shah denied the views by saying, “Neither I nor the BCCI have approached any former Australian cricketer with a coaching offer. The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect." 

The BCCI is looking for a new coach for the men's side after former Indian captain, Rahul Dravid decided to step down after the T20 World Cup 2024. 

"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," he said.

Moreover, Ponting isn’t the only former Australian cricket player whose name has been circulating since the Indian cricket officials announced that applications were being accepted for the position of head coach. 

Former captain Ponting's teammate and current coach of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Justin Langer, was also among the contenders along with Gautam Gambir, a former Indian player, and former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming.

However, Langer is not interested in taking Dravid’s place anytime soon, just like Ponting. He might be considering it in the future.

The head coach of the Indian cricket team must have the capability of advancing Indian Cricket.

"When we talk about international cricket, no role is more prestigious than that of the Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Team India commands the largest fan base globally, enjoying support that is truly unrivalled. Our rich history, passion for the game make this one of the most lucrative jobs in the world. The role demands a high level of professionalism as one gets to nurture some of the best cricketers in the world and an assembly line of talented cricketers to follow. Catering to the aspirations of a billion fans is a huge honour and the BCCI will pick the right candidate, capable of propelling Indian cricket forward," Shah said.