INDIA COACH

CAC seeks more time in naming new India coach

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

The CAC said they need to talk to the captain before taking a call © Agencies

The Cricket Advisory Committee on Monday (July 10) said it needs more time in taking a decision about India's next head coach.

Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman spoke to the press in Mumbai and confirmed that the CAC interviewed five candidates for the post, but wanted to talk to Virat Kohli, India captain, before making a decision about who will replace Anil Kumble as the head coach.

"What we have decided is that we will hold on for the time being on the announcement of the coach. We need a few more days and need to talk to a few more people and the captain and then we'll make an announcement. We feel there's no hurry at the moment," said Ganguly.

The CAC interviewed Richard Pybus, Virender Sehwag, Ravi Shastri, Lalchand Rajput and Tom Moody for the post and stated that the presentations that were made were 'outstanding' and 'exactly what coaches want to do in this system'. Phil Simmons, who was also amongst the shortlisted members, was unavailable for interview on Monday.

"We want to speak to Kohli once he's back from America. All the three of us (the CAC) along with the respective people concerned. We will explain to him that the coaches want to function in a certain way and make sure that everybody is on the same page. Because once we make this announcement, it has to be till the World Cup.

"What we've heard from the coaches today is nothing different from what we've heard last year. They've been outstanding, some of the names we've discussed. We were pleasantly surprised when we heard of the plans on how they want to go about the job," added Ganguly.

Ganguly said that the committee had just spoken to the candidates, but had not made up its mind over who they would like to be the next coach. He added that the 'process' is complete, but now they will speak to the 'people who matter' to take it forward.

"We will take a call which is the best way forward, I won't say right because nobody knows what is right or wrong, for the team and the boys. That's what's most important for us. We need to speak to the people who will matter, the ones who will take it away from us. Our job finishes and their jobs start," Ganguly added.

India have been without a coach after Anil Kumble stepped down following the Champions Trophy. Kumble's stint, that began with a victorious Test tour of the West Indies, also included an immensely successful home season. But, it came to an abrupt end when the former cricketer decided to step down citing captain Virat Kohli's issue with his 'style'. The turn of events confirmed that all was not well between the ex-coach and the captain, speculations of which were rife for a while. Despite the best efforts of the board as well as the CAC to broker truce, Kumble had to eventually walk away.

General Manager for cricket operations, MV Sridhar, was thus, appointed team manager for India's limited-overs tour of West Indies, with the rest of the support staff retained and carried forward from the Champions Trophy. It looks like the same set will carry on in the Island nation too.

"There's a SL tour coming in a week's time and the board will probably continue with the same set for the time being," Ganguly said.

He added that Virat Kohli stayed away from the entire coach selection process. Kohli, Ganguly said, had no inputs or names during the interview process. He added that he, as captain, was the most important in the cricket team and it was imperative for him and the CAC to be on the same page.

"You've got to give credit to Virat. He just completely stayed out of it. He has no inputs, he has not said any names. But we feel, as an advisory committee, he's the captain which is the most important in cricket. He and everyone of us have to be on the same page, which is the most important.

"CAC will go out of the picture once Virat and coach and respective members of the board sit down on it. We will make them understand what the coaches have said, their style of functioning. Virat needs to understand how the coaches will also operate. That's the best way forward. It has to be decided once and for all. Everybody will be different, everybody wants good of the team. The best possible thing is if everybody is on the same page," Ganguly concluded.

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